thistle. make a proper racket. All fuzz and frayed edges, the Manchester trio have been tightening that sound over the past year like they’ve got a tiny spanner and a lot of patience, and ‘backflip’ is where the whole thing lands clean on its feet: six tracks that rush past and then drag you straight back in again.
‘pieces’ opens the EP with oodles of charm and character as it flicks between softer passages and bursts of distortion. It’s about reshaping yourself for other people, and the track keeps shifting as though it’s trying on different outfits. ‘pylon’ follows, quickly finding its groove; the fuzz stays thick, and everything circles in a way that’s easy to sink into.
Right in the middle, ‘backflip in slow motion’ freezes everything for a second. An interlude of sorts, it's a quick pause that resets things slightly before ‘tied’ drops in. ‘mean eye’ cuts through with a burst of energy; it’s upbeat and boppy, with the “like that, like that, like that” hook locking in straight away. Playful and catchy, it's a real standout.
By the time ‘city,name’ rolls around, everything has sharpened slightly. It lands in a more direct space, rounding things off in a way that feels clear without making a big deal out of it.
‘backflip’ doesn’t hang around, but it leaves a mark. One run through turns into two without much thought, and before long you’re fully stuck in its orbit.
Get more Dork
Sessions · Playlists · Behind the scenes
