The north rises again

The news that Olly Ketteringham has parted ways with Lanterns On The Lake (albeit apparently amicably) came as a bit of a disappointment, personally speaking. After all, who wouldn't want to see a childhood chum playing with a Mercury-nominated band?

Let's face it, though: Radiohead's Philip Selway isn't a bad replacement, even if it only turns out to be a short-term arrangement. I guess it helps to have friends in high places - or at least fortuitous connections forged through having a shared record label, Bella Union.

Judging by lead single 'The Likes Of Us', forthcoming fifth album Versions Of Us won't exactly break the mould - but then the world could certainly use more of their understated grandeur.

It'll be interesting to see what Olly does next. Things haven't exactly panned out badly for another former member of Lanterns On The Lake, Adam Ian Sykes, whose band Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs have just returned with another corking record in the shape of Land Of Sleeper.

A friend who's into stoner and doom remains sceptical, but I'd argue that Will Ainsley's album review for Pitchfork does a sound job of nailing what sets them apart from the pack: in a nutshell, "they also embody the theatre, camp and sheer fun of all the best heavy music". Perhaps that comes across more obviously live, Matt Baty being a consummate showman in a niche metal genre not known for them, but there are several moments on the new album that raise a grin.

Ainsley observes that "[w]hereas they once prioritised the churn and burn, now their songs are leaner and tighter" - and in that respect Land Of Sleeper does feel much more in the vein of its immediate predecessor Viscerals than an earlier, more sprawling record like Feed The Rats.

Viscerals - while expanding their reach and fanbase - was ill fated in that it was released in April 2020, just as they were building up a head of steam. Fingers crossed that Land Of Sleeper fares better and they're able to continue enjoying sharing the new material with audiences in person.