Cheatahs – SANS EP (Wichita Recordings)
Limited Edition 1000 Vinyl Copies/Download
Out Now
New London quartet Cheatahs recall the best of 90’s shoegaze psychedelic pop with their debut EP SANS, more from Chris Hearn below.
Stop the presses! Hold the phones! Start the alarms! Calling all cars! New potential favourite band alert! This one is a winner! Extra, extra, extra!
Okay, so letâs set the scene. Not too long ago I did a gushing review of the new Mystery Machine album. Well, now here comes along a band that is new to me that could be Mystery Machineâs equally cool UK based cousin, and they have put together a WAY too short EP that is absolutely fabulous! I. LOVE. IT! And, if you like bands like Ash, the Posies, The Doughboys, Samiam, Superdrag and so on and so forth as I do, then this is the band for you, let me tell ya! About 30 seconds in to EP opener âSwanâ I knew I liked this album and this bandâ¦.and by the end of the EP, I knew I liked this album and this bandâ¦A WHOLE LOT!
Title song âSANSâ has some absolutely perfect Dinosaur Jr. âesque guitar feedback mixed with stoned out harmonies and hooks. âFountain Parkâ is just straight up poppy punky goodness, with a feel good hit of the spring thing going on. And it all wraps up way too soon with the rockier, yet still pretty laid back, âwooooâ peppered, somewhat fuzzed out âFlakeâ.
And, with that, I took to the internet to find a video for our fine readers of one of these songs from the EPâ¦. with absolutely no luck. I did, however, find their birthday party gone wrong vid for âCoaredâ off of their first EP of the same name. Here it is! Enjoy!
Now, how four guys from four different countries came together to create a band is a mystery to me. James Wignall on guitar and vocals is from Britain, Dean on bass and vocals is from the States, drummer Marc Raue is German and Nathan Hewitt on vocals and guitar is a fellow Canuck from Morinville just north of Edmonton, Alberta. He is quoted as saying âI donât think I could ever live in a place that had snow around for half the year ever again.â Oh, I hear you brother. I lived in Edmonton. It about killed me. You have my full understanding on that one. But, what doesnât kill you makes you stronger right? And that strength has been brought to this brilliant feedback filled pure pop, melody and harmony drenched beauty, Iâm guessing? Letâs pretend it has been.
Indeed, this is an excellent, excellent record and possibly the best album their label has released this year as far as Iâm concerned. Iâd have to say that it is one of my favourite records of the year, PERIOD. Wichita Recordings has found something good with Cheatahs. Now if we can get these guys together with Mystery Machine for a tour, I would be in seventh heaven. No, even betterâ¦eighth heaven!
Check out Cheatahs at all of the usual online haunts: On Facebook, twitter, tumblr and over at Bandcamp. You can download SANS from the Wichita Recordingâs website and order a 12 inch vinyl version. There are only 1000 available worldwide, so I think that is your cue to act now before this offer ends!
All words by Chris Hearn. You can read more from Chris on LTW here.