Reviews / / 06 · 05 · 2021
Squid aren’t an easy band to pin down. Live, they’re a mesh of arms and legs working in semi-unison – perhaps that’s where the sub-aqueous name comes from? – a group of musicians who yearn for spaces new, and ideas hitherto unexplored. On record, too, they’ve proved continually that resting on their laurels isn’t an option. Debut album ‘Bright Green Field’ encapsulates this, eschewing their prior works – that
stellar EP, or 2020 singles ‘Sludge’ and ‘Broadcaster’ – in favour of wiping the slate clean, and starting anew.
It’s proved to be a daring, and emphatically correct decision. A wrecking ball of innovative ideas that refuses to be wrestled into a pigeonhole, ‘Bright Green Field’ is an invigorating, inspired listen, and holds its head high as one of the most complete guitar debuts 2021 will witness.
Squid – Bright Green Field
If Squid are the guitar boys buzz band of the moment, some are going to get a little more than they bargained for on their debut LP
★★★ Album title: Bright Green Field Artist: Squid Release date: 7 May
Why are Englishmen obsessed with their countryside? Whether euologising or demonising, the pastoral landscapes, quiet, anonymous towns and parochial inwardness have been fertile ground for artists across mediums, from XTC to Ben Wheatley. Brighton five-piece Squid’s take is less discovering the village is harbouring a hidden cult and more how all its residents have been turned into paranoiac zombies by the ever-suffocating shiny, digital world outside.
“There are a few moments on the album that will surprise people”: An Interview with Squid
Image credit: Holly Whitaker By Georgie Holmes on
Releasing and promoting music during a pandemic is tough, but 5-piece band Squid have found significant success over the past year. With their debut album
Bright Green Field out on May 7th, I got to ask this wonderful band a few questions about their past, the album, and what to expect in the near future. If you’re a fan of post-punk tracks, Squid are ones to look out for. And, if not, read along anyways – you might just discover your new favourite band!
Global Grooves in Cultural Capital Kickstart funding success Date published: 13 December 2020
The Global Grooves complex has also been designated as the new Northern Carnival Centre Of Excellence by Arts Council England
Global Grooves has announced that it has received further support from Arts Council England for its cultural capital project: transforming its current home The Vale, at Vale Mill at the top of Micklehurst Road in Mossley, to a purpose-built arts centre and the Northern Carnival Centre of Excellence.
This means that Global Grooves has now raised £1m for the transformation project from a variety of sources including Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Mossley Town Council, Arts Council England’s Small Capital Fund, Foyle Foundation, Youth Music, Action Together, Jigsaw Housing and Sports England.