Sonar | Trapped in Kansas

While they still may be lacking an album, Scottish folks should already be aware of the talent that springs from this quartet from Ayr with funny hairdos. Those who, however, are yet to meet their sound, should be in for a treat, as this is one of those few bands who differentiate themselves by doing things genuinely well.

The press loves them, the critique wants them, the fans can’t get enough - surely they should do fairly well when the LP comes? Trapped in Kansas hold excellent chances at breaking the bank with their sound both at home and abroad, as what they’ve shown so far has proved to be well thought, nicely produced and brilliantly performed. They perform with mathematical precision the best blends of indie-rock, post-rock, math-rock, ambient and lots of other brilliant bits, that together with the vocals of frontman Finn Le Marinnel - who, by the way, might just have the most brilliant name, ever - make this an instantly recognizable and likable sound, pleasing fans of the math-rock genre as well as pleasing the ears of everyone else.

They look as if they just woke to a hurricane, with the roof of their houses flying about. They also sound just like they were hurricane-tamers, with their intricate patterns and melodies played with a surgeon’s precision causing an ambient wall, powerful yet delicate, it seems that every single note acts as a tiny soldier, executing each action to the millimeter. I have a feeling that in their live acts, while their hairdos look as if they were dried with an industrial blow-dryer, not a single hair would move. These guys might be German after all.

Finn’s caramelised voice complements things rather nicely, as well as giving things a slight uniqueness that makes them immediately recognisable. They have already been successful everywhere they were spotted playing since the very first day, and it seems that it will only continue to be this way. Hopefully soon, we will be able to get our hands on new material from these four lads. And then, we will see them everywhere. Just not in the annoying kind of way.

Trapped in Kansas will be releasing a split vinyl with Yahweh on the 2nd August through label Gerry Loves Records - stay tuned for more details on the release. You can also see them perform live at their launch gig, held on the 29th July at the Wee Red Bar (Edinburgh) and the day after they will be playing at Sleazy’s (Glasgow). Not to be missed!

Trapped in Kansas - Towerblock by gerrylovesrecords