Cecil formed in the 90s and managed to generate a lot of interest that got them dragged around the world playing the likes of T In The Park and Donnington and supporting Skunk Anansie, The Levellers and even later on Mansun. They changed membership and morphed into the likes of Voy, Fridge Mountain Fires and of late Takotsubo Men as well as vocalist Ste Williams solo guise of Fisherman Swilbert.
The history of this unreleased set of demos, in the bands own words: ‘We used to meet up and rehearse most days throughout the late 90's-early 00's. We'd start the day with a brew, a spliff and a bash on the Nintendo 64. Eventually, after Ally had one shot killed us all on Goldeneye, we would fuck about writing tunes and put down an idea or two onto our Akai DPS12'.
'These self recorded demos have been hiding in a drawer in Ste's house for decades. As rough and ready as the songs may be, they still have that Cecil charm’.
So the Album Fathom Time is a kind of tapes in the attic (or draw), a blast from the past. Will it live up to the like of their first album, the really rather great Bombar Diddlah?
The bands sound evolved over the years but still even in Takotsubo Men form has some distinctiveness that identifies the band sonically. Tracks overflow with a nihilistic rage that highly is controlled and more effective at delivering a message because of this.
Tracks like Contender and Passing Torture underpinned by eery guitar and crystal clear vocals that build up to soaring choruses provide a glimpse of the Cecil template but the band are too innovative to pin down. The likes of the more full on Balancing Act with its more 90s rock sound and instant hooky riff and big chorus and Shoreline with its staccato guitar blasts that builds up to a chorus that carries you with it, show that they can tackle their music differently and still retain a feeling of emotional emptiness.
Cecil can move into more prog sounding music with the likes of Karoshi with its piano surrounded by spaced out musical noises and Keep in Touch with its interesting intro leading into some almost 60s pop psych harmonies and melodies via some middle Eastern sounds.
Charred Hats - Is a fast, almost Indie track with a melodic guitar line, pretty cool harmony vocals that changes suddenly to spooky moments and then some discordant heavier parts. The vocals are the glue with this band as they keep it all flowing no matter how the music changes.
Like Tiananmen is a big epic and a gem of a track and the too short Last Orders at the Brain finishes too early. This last track ends the album and for my mind shows the continuity with music and themes that Takotsubo Men have today whilst still screaming their identity.
The album is 90s - 00s rock that doesn’t age as its nihilism and musical dexterity make it fresh sounding. Good musicians. Good songs that score with vocal repetition that builds up intensity. Great drums. A band that were always ready to take a risk musically yet sound cohesive and it really does improve the more you play it. There’s still more than a hint of something dangerous in there.
Music at Bandcamp: https://theoriginalcecil.bandcamp.com