Good Arrows is the third album from Tunng, the pastoral pop band behind the acclaimed Mother’s Daughter and Other Songs and Comments Of The Inner Chorus. Taking its title from a favourite phrase of co-founder Sam Gender’s brother, Good Arrows is a totally immersive record, enveloping the listener in Tunng’s wyrd world.Their first album to be recorded in its entirety with the full, six-piece band (core duo Sam and Mike Lindsay handled the majority of the first two), there’s a new depth of sound and power here, and a clutch of songs that’ll get right under your skin.Taking influences from Icelandic prog rock, choral music and film soundtracks, Good Arrows marks a significant development for Tunng they’ve expanded beyond the awkwardly-applied folktronica label to become a fully fledged (if experimentally-skewed) pop band."We’ve become much more of a unit, thinking together and playing together and understanding each other, says Mike. "The songwriting is more related to pop themes than anything traditional and the production is more related to skiffle bands than electronica. It is a more accessible record but still challenging genres and full of suprises."
Recorded in the Play Industries studios in East London between January and May this year, the sessions found the band introducing new instruments the hammer dulcimer, a steel-strung harp alongside familiar elements like field recordings from their trusty tape machine - the ‘beats’ in Arms are actually fire crackles recorded in Big Sur, California.
But while Good Arrows retains the sense of experimentalism that is Tunng’s calling card, this is their most accessible album to date.
Check out Bullets for proof it’s the most inventive pop song you’re likely to hear this year, with inspired lyrics and a throbbing oompah beat.
Elsewhere, Bricks blends quirky slide guitar with an organic Bontempi beat, Soup begins as a Tubular Bells-style instrumental and morphs into a heavy metal freakout and Secrets turns distinctly modern lyrics into a bewitching incantation.
Open up your tin of cold soup/Heat it up with bread from the shop/Sit in front of Jeremy Kyle/Wonder when the secrets will stop, it says.
Tunng were formed in London in 2003 when producer / guitarist Mike met singer songwriter Sam on the circuit, they soon began making Tunng’s debut album in a Soho basement above a lingerie shop.
The line-up expanded to a six piece for live gigs but soon became a solid unit. And they’re all multi-talented guys extracurricular activities involve everything from production (Mike has was behind the desk for Serafina Steer and Cibelle's latest efforts) to side projects with The Memory Band’s Stephen Cracknell (Sam) and playing in a sea shanty band called Admirals Hard (Becky).
Tunng’s rising star saw them undertake a storming European tour in 2006, with several high profile gigs in the US. They even brushed shoulders with Guns N’ Roses legend Slash on a flight from Texas to LA.
But they’re in their element playing outdoors with the sun on their backs and a glistening green field at their feet, which is why they’ll be spending most of the summer at festivals (including one organised by Sam in his hometown of Matlock Bath).
Closest to their heart is The Green Man Festival the band will be making their third appearance at Green Man this year which will be extra special as attendees will be allowed to buy copies of Good Arrows before its release.
The eagle-eyed among you will also notice there’s a fair amount of thematic titling going on in the tracklisting, with each track’s name just a single word.There might well be a secret story in amongst all those words, says Mike. But what could it mean? Answers on a postcard please.
AUGUST 10, Belladrum Festival, Inverness 17, The Green Man Festival, South Wales 22, Album launch @ Hoxton Bar and Grill, London SEPTEMBER 1, Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham 9, Bestival, Isle of Wight 21, Thermal Festival, Matlock Bath
Good Arrows is released 27 August