Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

A couple of Chicago bands released their debuts recently. Scotland Yard Gospel Choir put theirs out on Bloodshot Records while The 1900s opted for Parasol. Both are wonderful pieces of indie-pop. The 1900’s will be coming up on a future post.

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir is led by the Welsh-born Elia Einhorn. Elia is joined by a core of four more and the album is fleshed out by as many as 15 Bloodshot musicians. The album starts off with “Aspidistra,” a song that ruminates about one’s drug use as a youth. It sounds like something Pete Doherty could write if he wasn’t stuck in his rehab clinic’s revolving door.

“I Never Thought I Could Feel This Way For A Boy” is a phenomenally crafted song about coming out of the closet. The conveyance of the mixed up feelings felt while reaching a sexual epiphany turns this song into a classic. Lastly on “In Hospital,” Ellen O’Hayer has the lead on vocals and sounds like Kirsty MacColl as she delivers a beautiful tune about her dying friend.

Overall, the thing that keeps me spinning this release is the great storytelling and crisp musical accompaniment. Typically I focus on the music first and then delve into the lyrics. Where a lesser band may have faltered, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir doesn’t let the music overpower their wonderful storytelling.

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir – Aspidistra