John Knox Sex Club – Blud Rins Cauld

Their name may conjure images of bondage-born deviancy, but John Knox Sex Club (JKSC) believe in more traditional values. Flashing a spectrum of rich instrumentation, the Glasgow quintet’s debut LP spotlights a band boasting a remarkable way with song progression. A certain dedication to quiet-loud atmospherics makes a contemporary comparison to The Twilight Sad inevitable, but – whereas their Chem19 brethren can be more immediate in their delivery – JKSC’s efforts unfurl with fascinating depth.

It’s a slow-burning affair, but persistency is rewarded in Honestly The Beast’s swooping, mournful violin and the astonishing string-laden ripples of In The Ditch. Capable of both a grave blast and a pensive cry, singer Sean Cumming’s brogue-affected delivery is the centrepiece of William and caustic closer Light Through Rubble. But this is no one man show; every corner of Blud Rins Cauld is engrained with a sound that’s expertly crafted and devilishly engorging. [Billy Hamilton]