SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SKYDIGGERS – HIDE YOUR LIGHT

Skydiggers
Hide Your Light
Latent Recordings

Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson, collectively known as Skydiggers, are back with the first of two new EPs, Hide Your Light. Here, they are assisted by Joby Baker, who co-produced it with Maize and Finlayson. The end result is an EP jammed full of great, powerful and moving songs. And while they deliver what Skydiggers fans have come to expect, there are some surprises on here.

The use of horns on the album, courtesy Daniel Lapp and Nick Lariviere, adds a new dimension to their music. Sure, there have been horn arrangements before, but on this EP, the arrangements seem more rhythm and blues and jazz. The title track, “Hide Your Light” for instance, features the use of horns throughout. “Hide Your Light” also benefits from superb backing vocals from Jessy Bell Smith. The horn arrangement in “My City Was Gone” makes the already sad song even more heart wrenching. Skydiggers have always been comfortable exploring sounds and textures, and that is evident on this collection of songs. The groove in “Muscle Cars nd Sissy Bars” is so well done, especially with the fine organ backing from Baker.

Finlayson’s playing is, as usual, perfect. His laid-back style and ability to create mood and feeling with his arrangements and playing is, and always has been, one aspect of the band that set Skydiggers apart from their contemporaries. Maize, again as usual, uses his vocals in a powerful and stunning manner. There is no mistaking the emotions being expressed throughout the EP. Maize’s vocals have always been an incredible combination of vulnerability and anger. He sounds great.

Hide Your Light is a great EP, however one cannot help but wish they had done an entire album. Like Ringo Starr who is only releasing EPs now, Skydiggers are choosing this format to release their music and a second EP is scheduled for October. In the meantime, there is a great deal here to enjoy. Welcome back, Skydiggers, not that you ever left, but new music from Finlayson and Maize is always reason to celebrate.

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