The Electric Disco.
'Lullabies for a Wildcat'
Album Review
The debut LP from Sons of Sevilla is a sun-drenched journey into '70s psychedelia, delivering a sound far beyond their years.
Words by Mark Limb • March 23, 2024
'Lullabies for a Wildcat' is the debut album from Sons of Sevilla, aka brothers Henry and Reuben Smith. Released last year on the hallowed Southern Californian super label, Ubiquity Records, the album has quickly garnered universal acclaim, earning them a coveted spot supporting the Bones Brigade legend Tommy Guerrero on his upcoming tour.
I was sent a copy at the end last summer, but the chaos of a house sale and the subsequent move put this review (and everything else!) on hold until now.
It is a stunning piece of work that I've had on repeat pretty much non stop since it landed and it was haunting me that I was yet to write anything or properly sing its praises, so as the dust (almost) settles on the move, I've finally found time to head back in and get some words down about what was one of my standout LP's of 2024!
Hailing from Featherstone on the outskirts of Leeds up in the North of England, the brothers began writing together as Sons of Sevilla purely by chance during lockdown in 2020.
Henry had dropped in to play some guitar for Reuban who had been working on Sounds From The Workshop, the follow up to his highly regarded first album released in 2020 on Soundway records.
Suitably for Soundway records, Reubens albums there had more of a tropical vibe, but he had already shown his creative dexterity under his Expositions guise with releases on Andy Pye's 'Balearic Social' and the always-killer 'Forest Jams'.
The partnership with Henry took things in a different direction however, and together they crafted a sound inspired by the lifetime of music they had heard growing up in their family pubs over the years.
The pair ended up writing a couple of songs in the course of an afternoon and liking the vibe of the tracks they decided to dedicate the rest of the summer to working together, ultimately leading to the creation of 'Lullabies for a Wildcat'.
The album is a remarkably polished piece of work, showcasing a depth and maturity that you'd expect of a seasoned band. The fact that it was recorded by two brothers in their dad’s old workshop, armed just with Logic Pro, some guitars and a drum machine, makes it all the more impressive and makes you wonder how big their sound could become with a full band behind them
"We had no band around us and hardly any equipment to record so it’s pretty lo-fi. We recorded and played everything on the record. Our drum machine appears as the drummer on most of the album..”
Lullabies for a Wildcat opens gently with 'Out In The Sun', a breezy blend of shimmering guitars, keys and strings, punctuated by a delicate xylophone melody that repeats throughout, which alongside Reuben's layered vocals, conjure the feeling of hazy, 70's Californian sunshine and set the tone for the rest of the album.
'Alright in the Moonlight' is a stoned trip into '70s psychedelia, swirling with reverb, sitars and overdriven wah-wah's. The production is superb, at times echoing the feel of early Tame Impala, thanks in part to the vintage processing on Reuben’s vocal - a signature part of both the Sons of Seville sound and the album as a whole.
As the album progresses, the brothers continue to effortlessly weave through genres and tempos, yet they never stray too far from the sun-drenched psychedelic folk-rock core that runs through the heart of the album.
The fingerprints of JJ Cale, Neil Young, and Nino Ferrer, alongside the more contemporary tracks that soundtracked their youth are undeniable, shaping a sound that feels both timeless and remarkably mature.
The slow, shuffling drums of 'Visions' channel an early ‘90s post-rave vibe, reminiscent of classic Screamadelica-era Weatherall productions. My Wishes' taps into the same decade, its jangly guitars bathed in a dreamy shoegaze haze, while 'Brain Fog' briefly leans into the baggy sound of 90's Madchester- all unmistakable nods to a soundtrack that undoubtedly shaped the brothers' musical palette growing up in the North West of England
'Odd Ones Out' might just be the album’s standout moment for me, seamlessly blending the brothers' influences into a wall of sound that almost veers into Sonic Youth territory..
The whole album is filled with tracks that are begging to be heard live, but Odd Ones Out, with its singalong chorus and guitar solo's feels destined to become a crowd favourite.
For a debut release, Reuben and Harry have achieved something truly remarkable here. Lyrically, musically, and in terms of sheer production prowess, they have crafted an album that feels far beyond their years, masterfully channelling the spirit of ’70s psychedelia while still forging a fresh and exciting sound of its own.
Lullabies for Wildcats is available to buy on Vinyl or as a digital download from the Sons of Sevilla bandcamp
https://sonsofsevilla.bandcamp.com/album/lullabies-for-a-wildcat
The Sons of Seville are currently touring with Tommy Guerrero. The London dates are sold out but there's still a chance to catch them up in Manchester and Leeds
For the latest news from the band follow them over on Instagram or check out their page at Space Agency for future gigs and tour dates.
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