Review | Conscious Pilot – Epoxy Plains

Label: DevilDuck Records

By Issy Packer

Formed by former Cheap Teeth members Joe Laycock and Jack Sharp and joined by musicians from Catholic Action and Pressure Retreat, Conscious Pilot had a certain expectation to live up to when they announced the release of their debut EP, ‘Epoxy Plains‘.

Kicking things off with the previously released track ‘Halfway to Hockney‘, lead vocalist Joe Laycock is front and centre for the opening single. Laycock’s baritone vocals lead the rhythm, reaching a satisfying climax over the top of the post-punk instrumental.

‘Modern Religion‘ looks at ways individuals seek meaning in their lives and relies heavily on the bass line pulsating behind Laycock’s persistent vocals. The lyrics are a poignant reflection for the band that wrestles with moving on from their previous projects and the vulnerability displayed adds such strength to their sound.

‘Sillian Rail‘ transitions through a different iteration of post-punk, one that leans a little more into indie rock, the instrumentals breaking away from the guitar and drum sound and adding a funky synth through-line.

While ‘Scarborough Warning‘ returns to a heavy guitar melody, the sonic layers brought forward turn it into a charming, infectious track. The EP closer, ‘Archie’s‘, joins this stylised, polished sound of post-punk, following closely behind ‘Sillian Rail,’ it’s another cross-genre track that emphasises the band’s versatility.

The penultimate track on the EP is a sweeping five minute ballad that narrates the life of an ex-military expatriate spending his twilight years in Spain. Supported by Laycock’s demonstrative vocals and with a heavy guitar backing, ‘Benidorm‘ is expansive in sound and rich in its lyricism.

Conscious Pilot offer post-punk with a dollop of sonic melodies, inspiring lyrics and raw vocals on their debut EP. Joining the likes of IDLES‘ ‘TANGK‘, ‘Epoxy Plains‘ proves post-punk can be fun, changeable and not all-too-serious; the Glasgow quintet are a special addition to this genre soundscape.