DANTERCEPIES, the February-released track from Edinburgh foursome Redolent, lies emotionally where nervousness meets excitement. Beginning with a sustained, warping chord that sounds like an alarm, the track blossoms into a controlled chaos of tittering beats and synth figures so intricate they seem to flash.
It evokes a scene of emergency service vehicles, their lights glinting in the sun.
“Dantercepies is the name of a massive cable car in Italy,” says Robin Herbert, who started Redolent in 2012 with guitarist brother Danny, bassist Robbie White and drummer Andrew Turnbull. “I used to get anxiety as a kid waiting in them, so the song is about that feeling building up into the release of adrenaline from skiing.”
Like Dantercepies, more recent single Kickhimintheshins is a highly strung meld of jerky melodies and the intricate, glitchy ambient reminiscent of experimental techno pioneer Aphex Twin. Unusually for a sound more associated with a solitary figure standing behind a bank of synthesizers and drum machines, Redolent have a set-up more common to guitar bands. Herbert even sings, his vocals going from an almost spoken-word style to hitting the high notes with verve.
“It’s just me mashing up what I like,” Herbert says. “Young Fathers, for example. For us as a band at the moment, they are a huge deal. They are very important. Young Fathers, solo electronic artists who make really quite intricate music and Aphex Twin – they all factor in there.”
Herbert continues: “Aphex Twin is a big one. He changed the way I thought about songs. I like artists where you are like: ‘What on Earth is that?’ and then you get really into it. It’s really intricate but has that punk spirit through it. You just feel like he doesn’t care, and then you’re into it. He’s a huge influence.”
Both singles are on forthcoming EP Sgitheanach, released via Redolent’s own Aspartame imprint.
“The name is Gaelic for the Isle of Skye, and means winged, I think,” Herbert says. “It’s obviously not about Skye because there’s no lyrics on that track. I wrote it with the vibe of Skye in mind. It felt like the word suited the tone of the song.”
With another EP and an album “90% ready to go”, Redolent are holding off playing live dates until the recordings are in the bag and a set can be worked on.
“Danny works at Post-Electric Studios in Leith,” says Herbert. “So we’ll probably record there. We’re just starting to demo the album now and will get it out as soon as we can.
“It’s more vocals, guitar and keys-based than the [Sgitheanach] EP. It’s more of an alternative vibe, less groovy. I’m into all different types of music, so I’m not really focused on sticking to a sound or a genre.”
The Sgitheanach EP is out via Aspartame
redolent.bigcartel.com www.facebook.com/RedolentBand
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here