The Gullivers

There’s something truly evocative about The Gullivers‘ brand of sweeping ambient pop. It’s a dreamy, otherworldly sound, one that haunts and compells in a very real way. There are shades of a number of different artists here, but comparisons would be largely futile. The Gullivers are increasingly crafting a style that is absolutely their own, and one of which they should be very proud indeed.

The addition of female vocals is the most immediate alteration from previous EP, Ambulance. Sophie McGrath’s soft, ethereal tones gel beautifully with Mark Byrne’s own fragile melodies; both drift around in a daze, strong enough to hold a tune but veering alarmingly in and out of focus. Both find a wonderful sense of place within their songs, driving each piece along while never overpowering. McGrath is a real star here, her lead in ‘Letters’ the stand-out performance of the EP.

Echoing, affected guitars glisten away in the background, and strings pulsate and grow beneath the mix. But the rhythm section is disappointing. Andrew Grillo’s bass remains overly complicated, straining to be heard when it needs to settle into the background. The record’s most splendid moments arrive when it fades away almost completely, creating a smoother and far less jarring ambience. Percussively, it’s occasionally a little out, and you get the feeling a re-record would do a couple of these songs wonders. A lack of tightness is part of The Gullivers’ charm, but this is occasionally pushing the boundaries a little too far.

Despite such issues, Legerdemain is an EP that strays enormously close to brilliance. This is a collection of musicians who still have plenty to learn about the intricacies of a recorded output, and who do occasionally seem to struggle to work together cohesively. Some songs don’t quite go as far as you’d like; others fail to go anywhere at all. But The Gullivers have found a genuinely unique, hugely rich sound. There’s tremendous promise here, displayed by a band who can only continue to grow. - The Line of Best Fit

eanwhile, headliners The Gullivers manage to stay afloat amid the racket, playing the balancing game with their blend of groove-based art rock numbers engulfed by a morose, bass-heavy Joy Division-esque glacial sound. EP title track 'Ambulance' drips with icicle-like glistening guitars, vocalist Mark Byrne's and female singer Sophie McGrath's vocals washing over each other like foaming waves forcing their way over rocks and crashing onto shore. A smidgeon of their punk beginnings still haunts their work although the positive crowd reaction signals their decision to cash in on the old and largely invest in a new sound has paid off. - The Fly