Listen: Grandfather Birds – Things Beneath The Water [Best Fit Premiere]

Newcastle ambient rock outfit Grandfather Birds haven’t been hibernating in their year-long absence; more squirreling away the intricate little acorns of 90′s alt that flourished on their sprawling April comeback track.

Where ‘Spithope‘ trod tentatively into unknown, exploring themes of disorientation and detachment via thick layers of haunting tremolo, b-side ‘Things Beneath The Water’ warmly embraces their more direct side, last heard on 2011′s Radio 1 approved single ‘Higher Bridges’. Softly insistent guitar tolls and thudding kicks cleanse our palates of the a-side’s strung-out vibes in an instant.

Matt Saxon’s sinewy enunciations afford the increasingly more frenetic melody a certain pop-centric tautness. His esoteric musings and subtle barbs – ‘maybe there’ll be a day when, I’m talking and you’re listening’ - lulling in the creases between shuddering cymbal crescendos and chirruping guitars. ‘Things Beneath The Water’ confirms Grandfather Birds’ penchant for embedding strong hooks in high-intensity structures has lost none of its appeal.

The ‘Spithope’ single is available as a free download here.