There are probably easier ways to deal with your feelings than making an EP like 'backflip', and thistle. have never sounded particularly interested in the easy option. The Manchester band’s new release takes the throat-shredding catharsis of debut EP 'it’s nice to see you, stranger' and blows it out wider with bigger riffs, harsher edges, crunchy synths and melodies that stick around for days afterwards.
The title came from the band becoming fully obsessed with the idea of learning how to do an actual backflip. “It might have started as a joke but is almost entirely sincere now,” they explain. “The stunt holds some symbolism I’m sure - mastering your body, peak performance, explosive energy.” Which makes sense for an EP made while the band were busy throwing out old habits, trying different writing approaches and figuring out where to take thistle. next.
With 'backflip' out now, thistle. talk through the EP track by track.
pieces
Cameron: I was listening to a lot of slowcore bands while writing this song. It was originally arranged that way, but when we got into the studio we decided to make it wayyyyy more energetic. I was against the idea at first, but I think it was the right choice in the end. I don’t particularly have very good technique with “screaming”, so this was the last song we recorded vocals for, and that ended up being a very, very long day. I couldn’t speak on the train back home. Judwyn was very pleased to have the chance to mess around with the synths provided by Macks Faulkron at REX RECS, and came up with his wonderful melody, which I think completely changed the song for the better.
pylon
Cameron: Mid-tour with the wonderful band Humour, we realised we still needed one more song for the EP, as all of the other demos we’d made didn’t feel right for the project. We spent around eight hours in a rehearsal room in Cardiff going insane, writing songs that we hated over and over again. After about six of those hours, we decided to put two of those songs together and finally made something we liked. The next morning, we recorded a demo in our hotel room using a mix of our phone mics, DI’d guitars and MIDI drums. The studio recording sounded A LOT better than that version.
tied
Cameron: I really just wanted a song to jump around to whilst playing. I was going to a lot of hardcore shows at the time and wanted a piece of the action. Lyrically, I remember feeling super drained from work and life in general. It’s basically just me and Judwyn whining throughout the song - quite like most of our conversations, actually. I love playing this live.
city, name
Judwyn: The beautiful summer we’d spent in Europe touring with our friend Cryogeyser had transitioned into a dull and isolating Manchester winter. I wanted to write something bass-melody-forward for the EP, and that was really the inception of the track - that, and hearing all the natural harmonics in ‘Shadow of a Doubt’ by Sonic Youth for the first time. Even at the best of times, I don’t enjoy writing directly about what’s going on in my life. I’d much prefer to exist behind the safety glass of lyrical impressionism - it allows a lot of space for a song to exist within too. It feels less tethered. I only really control the mood of the piece.
mean eye
Judwyn: While Cameron tracked his vocals for pylon, I struggled on the steps leading down to Macks’ recording studio to put together some lyrics that made any semblance of sense. It’s somewhat flirtatious, but in the clumsy and uncoordinated way that I flirt. I think there’s an awkward charm to the song.
thistle's EP 'backflip' is out now.
