iLiKETRAiNS – The Christmas Tree Ship EP
IliKETRAiNS are a band that have always been underrated in my eyes. The track they have released ambitious tracks ‘Spencer Perceval’ to the storytelling wonder of “A Rook House For Bobby.” The new EP sets a new course for the band. The new EP is five tracks long but it is really one giant big piece of music. The EP starts with “The Christmas Tree Ship” with a very sparse opening that sounds so fragile. It leads right into the “South Shore.” The section shows a little more life and has a really power little moment in the middle that always strikes a chord with me. “Two Brothers” has some really amazing drum work on the backed of the track. Toward the two minute mark you can hear the drums in the background and when the guitars start to pick up and get more intense. It is just a wonderful moment. The band really shine in the last section of the EP called “Friday – Everybody Goodbye.” The section begins with a little swirling sounds in the background then works up to a thrilling and emotional climax and I love how that swirling sound makes a return in the end. The band at every release have put together a splendid display of their craft but this EP was really quite something. The band continues to amazing with every record.
By John Siwicki
iLiKETRAiNS – The Christmas Tree Ship (Behind The Scenes)
Behind the scenes of The Christmas Tree Ship film.
ILikeTrains release “The Christmas Tree Ship”
THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHIP is instrumental music by I LIKE TRAINS with the five sections performed and recorded in one single take. A video-maker, a young choreographer and a dancer have created a short film to accompany the physical release which will be available as a limited edition digi-pack containing CD/DVD and hand-numbered insert. All this is out on November 24th.
Track listing:
1 The Christmas Tree Ship
2 South Shore
3 Two Brothers
4 Three Sisters
5 Friday, Everybody Goodbye
I LIKE TRAINS will be touring during November/December.
22 NOV Gagarin 205, Athens, Greece
27 NOV Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
28 NOV Pretty Vacant Club, Dusseldorf, Germany
29 NOV Waschhaus, Potsdam, Germany
30 NOV Piwnica, Poznan, Poland
01 DEC Glanz and Gloria, Osnabruck, Germany
02 DEC Perron 55, Venlo, Germany
03 DEC Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
04 DEC Verso, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
05 DEC The Crypt, Hastings
06 DEC Arts Centre, Norwich
07 DEC Louisiana, Bristol
09 DEC Joiners Arms, Southampton
10 DEC Feet East, London
11 DEC The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
13 DEC The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
14 DEC Dexters, Dundee
15 DEC King Tuts, Glasgow
16 DEC The End, Newcastle
iLiKETRAiNS – We Go Hunting
iLiKETRAiNS debut full length album “Elegies to Lessons Learnt” was easily one of our favorite albums of last year. The album already has spawned a few great singles and “We Go Hunting” is just another one added to the pile. The song is about the Salem Witch Trails from 1692. The witch trails are of course the famous for the hangings of young ladies accused of witchcraft. The band have a knack of writing these songs about such bizarre and strange events in human history and in putting us in the shoes of one of the characters. “The sisters of the devil will burn in hell” as that cryptic voice croons as he sounds like he is delivering a speech to an angry mob. It is not the most exhilarating single but it still an monster slice of grandiose and epic sound writing. It takes break their record of singles scored above a 9.5.
By John Siwicki