Album Review: exmagician, Sit Tight

Eight years on from their rightly lauded debut Scan The Blue, Belfast-based psych-pop crew Exmagician release the sequel. And it’s spellbinding. Seasoned sonic explorers Daniel Todd and James Smith steer the ship once again, with the former members of the should’ve-been-massive Cashier No. 9 and Corrigan serving up some irresistible earworms.

Conjuring up images of early Marc Bolan, Beck and the Beta Band, the tellingly titled Sit Tight sees the twosome at the peak of their powers. The harmonica-fuelled, funk sprinkled opener ‘Sharpen These’ is a standout, while the Beach Boys-style ‘Pistol’ deserves to soundtrack your summer. Best of all is ‘Dullard’, a hook-laden, folk flavoured number full of T-Rex-like melodies.

With odd sci-fi tinged whistles and wobbles also in the mix, it’s one of the best songs the duo have put their name to. Inventive and unforgettable, these pigeonhole-hating iconoclasts have made one of the albums of the year.

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