When the first Tindersticks album emerged in 1993, immediately they stood out from other bands within the independent sector. Their lush, orchestrated sound, decorated with pianos and violins, was at odds with the prevailing zeitgeist. This was the post-grunge era that also saw the first glimmers of what would become Britpop, both highly conservative forms in which the four-piece guitar, bass and drums format held sway. Sartorially, Tindersticks were notable too for their choice of rumpled suits, a far cry from the denimed look that dominated stages at the time. Vocalist Stuart Staples was a different type of frontman. His mumbled, introverted style, breaking out into the occasional croon marked him as against the grain. The rumour, perhaps an urban myth, that he was the basis for Vic Reeves’ club singer on ‘Shooting Stars’ meant there was a period where he might not have been taken seriously.
Irrespective of the ebbs of critical acclaim, Tindersticks have persisted, albeit with only Staples, guitarist Neil Fraser and organist David Boulter remaining from the original line-up. They have become the masters of film soundtracks, being regular collaborators with French director, Claire Denis. Their previous album, 2020’s ‘Distractions’, marked a turn into more left-field experimentalism. However, their 14th album, ‘Soft Tissue’ reveals a return to the band’s more traditional qualities with its emphasis on its songwriting virtues and their most consistently strong collection of songs, albeit with an undertow of experimentation especially in the rhythms.
Recorded in a studio in Girona, Spain of sufficient size for them to play and eat together, the album has an organic quality. This is immediately apparent on opening track, ‘New World’, a song about the narrator trying to make sense of the strange world developing around him. With Julian Siegel’s brass arrangement and Gina Foster’s soulful backing vocals with its positive refrain, “I won’t let my love become my weakness”, alongside Boulter’s understated keys adding to the emotional heft, it is sublime. The second of the record’s eight tracks, ‘Don’t Walk, Run’ is also marked out by the brass section which suggests a meeting point of Philly soul and Isaac Hayes’ considered, sophisticated arrangements, punctuated by some emphatic percussion.
That emphasis on the rhythm track is apparent on the Tropicalia infused ‘Nancy’ on which Earl Havin’s playing is gated, echoed and fused with a CR78. The combination of Boulter’s organ arpeggios, Dan McKinna’s bass, brass stabs and Staples telling the classic tale of a guy messing up and begging for forgiveness is superb. Another track to utilise a comma in its title (a pleasing development to this self-appointed Chief Inspector of the Grammar Police), ‘Falling, The Night’ is especially laidback with Staples’ croon reclining alongside a slowly clacking rhythm, soothing organ and relaxed orchestration.
A song with a mystery at its heart, the gorgeous ‘Always A Stranger’ has Staples emoting “my love is in flames” and making it sound an undesirable affliction. An organ bubbles underneath like water and mournful yet serene orchestration lifts him up. Appropriately, ‘The Secret of Breathing’ is an incredibly hushed piece with vocals, percussion and orchestration all dialled down to one. That restraint results in a song that focuses the attention and feels far more alive than bands that turn everything up to eleven.
High praise indeed but ‘Turn My Back’ is the album’s highlight. Foster’s strong and uplifting vocal as she sings “this freedom” combines perfectly with Staples’ more tortured grimaces and the song’s deep rhythms as it is swept along with a joyously swinging horn arrangement. After such exertion, suitably, ‘Soft Tissue’ ends on a note of calm, ‘Soon to be April’, with exquisite guitar, Staples talking to himself and softly swelling strings.
‘Soft Tissue’ is a record that accepts hyperbole as its rightful response. Its songs and arrangements are exquisite, conjuring deep emotion and showing Tindersticks at the peak of their powers.
Tindersticks: Soft Tissue – Out 13th September 2024 (City Slang)
– New World (Official Video) (youtube.com)
I was editor of the long-running fanzine, Plane Truth, and have subsequently written for a number of publications. While the zine was known for championing the most angular independent sounds, performing in recent years with a community samba percussion band helped to broaden my tastes so that in 2021 I am far more likely to be celebrating an eclectic mix of sounds and enthusing about Made Kuti, Anthony Joseph, Little Simz and the Soul Jazz Cuban compilations as well as Pom Poko and Richard Dawson.
