ROTHCO are five veterans of the Hull music scene. The band have paid their dues in previous outfits such as Bunkerpop, Black Ravines, Stuka, Big River, Black Delta Movement and Bedsit. They release a four track EP called `Fool`s Gold` this month which lyrically explores everything from human fragility to defiance. Frontman Josh Ingham pulls from a deep well of personal experience, homelessness, illness, family, politics and fuses it with a love of poetry and art, turning each song into a deeply felt reaction to the world around him.
Title track ‘Fool`s Gold’ leads us in and according to the band “is our statement against the mechanical and algorithmic efficiency of the modern world, our declaration in favour of keeping humanity in the arts and wider life.” It has a captivating melodic almost dreamy shimmer about it with vocals that betray a kind of angst or anguish. It almost halts a third of the way through and becomes more rhythmic and reflective before reverting to its original path as it leads us out. There`s a more angular vibe to `Coming in Hot` which has an erratic nigh on stop start compelling beat.
`You`re Not the Only One` is a dark slow burn that draws you into its enticing absorbing mystical layers before it bursts into life with a pulsating dangerous rhythm. A track that`s delightfully malign where you can`t fail to succumb to its irresistible pull. We close out with `Jackson` which rolls along with a throbbing bass line and pounding drum beat at its heart with guitar chord riffs ascending, descending, and glistening at times as the vocals are crooned or intoned as if from a demented preacher on a mission.
`Fool`s Gold` usually symbolises something that is deceptive and misleading but here it`s anything but and the four tracks shared allow us around fifteen minutes of enchanting pleasure and leave you wanting more, so much more.
Rating 9/10
