This is the first release by The Craft - a trio comprising Eden Bradfield (formerly of the Trendees), Duane Zarakov (Axel Grinders, Spacedust) and P Wits. Eden is a great violinist, and she brings this really weird mix of exquisite melody and punk amateurishness to her guitar playing. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard - biting, and tremulous, at the same time. Eden often seems to be in so much personal pain that it adds a lot of frisson to her performances. I’ve heard other fragments of The Craft’s recordings, where that soloing is contrasted with the faithful and committed rock grind of the band, and can’t wait to hear more. P Wits' presence here is testament to him having basically the greatest taste in the world, ever. I mean, there is essentially no-one who is able to make better selections from the world of culture than him. He is the kind of slouchy grouch who can pull off jokes about the Symbionese Liberation Army and gets how to make rock music - trust him. This is a sonically solid recording, with Duane’s hard hitting and the creaking guitar sound giving it a slight ambience of The Gordons. Sure, there is murk here, but believe me, it’s the nascence of something grand. I love a great mix of intelligence and rock stupidness, and maybe the intelligence is just a little deeply buried in this mix, but this is the clay that will go on to be shaped into the kind of dirty poetry that makes rock music the only forgivable medium. - Maryann Savage
credits
released May 31, 2022
E Bradfield: Guitar/Vox
P Wits: Guitar/Bass
D Zarakov: Drums