Leicestershire quartet Spoort were one of our favourite emerging acts of 2020, providing one of our most enjoyable interviews and landing on our EPs of the year with their self-titled debut. They’re carrying on that momentum with a bunch of new tracks set to be released in the coming months, starting with today’s new one “Charm & the Strange”. Guitarist and vocalist Paul Cupi says:
“Space is the place, or at the very least it’s a place. The modern musician’s reaction to space is indifferent. The city – being the centre of modern music – is so artificially bright that we are blind to the stars. Music has been completely disconnected from reality and is controlled by artificial art officials. Charm and the Strange is a return to the archaic love of reality in the form of a cheesy pop song.”
Fans of the band’s previous work will know that Spoort have a fascination with outer space, so for them to deliver a love song to the universe on “Charm & the Strange” seems like a natural step, but they do it with such style and aplomb that it sounds completely fresh. Utilising jazz rhythms and keys, they paint a blissful and weightless space where Cupi’s late-night thoughts waft and dissolve beautifully. His charm shines in the way he can flit between everyday conversational terms like “god I fucking love ya” and then broaden into more cerebral ideas: “I know I’m right / this place is enchanted / you take it for granted / but I won’t.” With spiralling guitar lines further provoking his conceptual thoughts, he comes to the peaceful nihilism of the final lines: “then I finally see what life is about / there isn’t a light that never goes out.” Once again transmuting their diverse influences into a detailed and unique production that manages to encompass the quotidian, philosophy and science fiction, “Charm & the Strange” is yet another reason to be excited about this band.
These influences are further evidenced in the Videodrome-esque video, which you can watch below. Otherwise check out “Charm & the Strange” on streaming platforms.
With more to come soon from Spoort, make sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
