On their new EP '
To Cast the Sea in Concrete', Cork's
Pebbledash zigzag between trad folk, shoegaze, post-punk, glitchy noise and warm, swelling indie like a band flicking through presets with no intention of picking just one. It's a bit all over the place. It's also really good.
Things kick off gently with 'Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór', a traditional folk instrumental that whispers "this might be a tasteful EP" - a lie. One track later, and 'Tiles and Moss' is blasting through like a scene-stealer from a Wolf Alice deep cut. Big guitars, big feelings, proper standout.
'
Isn't It Always' dials it back with a softer, more classic approach - moody but grounded. '
An Fear Marbh' follows like someone tripped over a pedalboard in a dream. It's noisy, chaotic and kind of brilliant, if not strictly "song-shaped". '
Cell' starts fragile, then slowly swells into something comforting. '
O The Wind' leans back into trad, all strings and softness, before 'The Shape of a Day' returns to the fuzz for one last ride.
There's a lot going on. Some of it connects instantly. Some of it takes a minute. But what holds it together is the intent; this is a band reaching beyond neat, tidy ideas and seeing how far they can stretch their sound without it snapping.
