To Hell With Youth & Beauty

There is a great Scottish tradition of extrapolating universal truths from small perspectives - possibly because the mist never clears long enough to give a clear view of anything much and we're forced to guess at the bigger picture. This is the Razorbills' stock in trade: they formed in a pub in a wee Galloway town, and their chief concern has been giving the other regulars something to sing along to. With the release of their first full-length album (following 2010's e.p. 'Cursory Rhymes', recorded as The Geese) they invite the world into that pub to raise their voices alongside the locals. This isn't a straightforward three-chords-and-a-chorus job, though - you might just need to keep your ears open and consider the uncluttered perspective on politics, love, religion and community that can be gained by breathing the rarified Galloway air. This is what happens when a band enjoys each other's company and remembers that music isn't all about self-pity and doom, but is the glue that binds us, the sword that slays the dragons and the international, universal language of poets, philosophers and pilgrims. And the violin player bakes a bloody good cake, as well.