Stealing Sheep demo review

Stealing Sheep Demo Review - When The Lights Go Out

There was probably someone somewhere who naively attempted to make stripey paint. Stealing Sheep have done this in musical terms.
I imagine the paint didnt turn out too well, and at times you feel this band are perilously close to muddying their intended stripeyness, using such an array of instruments (guitars, bass, drums, pianos, violins, synths, accordions, harps etc),especially in closing track 'Theres Only One', which has made use of an intrinsic, centuries old gypsy/sailor accordion riff for its thrust.
But, several things rally in their favour to prevent this happening. Firstly, the subtlety of this musical genre itself, the contemporary feminine folk pervaded by the likes of fellow songstresses in The Blue Roses, leaves adequate space for the 3/4 female foursome to engage in instrumental eclecticism. I could imagine watching spring slowly arrive listening to opener 'Shoot The Ducks To Win' with its mild, meadow-like melodies. Secondly, the harmonies and vocals (all female) per se are are at times so beautifully layered that it feels like eating a Japanese box of chocolates, such is the intricacy, and again the opening track is where this is prevalent most.
Thirdly, there is depth, owing to an emotional duality. Initial impressions are of a positive and youthful vibrancy in the music. However, there is undeniable, underlying melancholy to it all, and this is perfectly encapsulated in 'Hole In The Water' which swings violently from chirpy plinky plunkiness to gorgeous swarms of synth and violin backed melancholy. The record on the whole is a demonstration on how to access a peaceful state through indulgence in said melancholy. Ode to music
'Love You Are A Record' is the tune you'll be humming most, again, a gentle musical manifestation of the self explanatory five words in the title, (it sounds like the title supposes it would,) while 'Sleep' has quite obviously been recorded at the funeral of a pixie or fairy, in a pixie/fairy world seemingly accommodating of Leonard Cohen music.
Lyrically poetically abstract, again implying depth. Their meaning seems clear and definitive to them, even if not to us. They're also personal, direct and in the moment, always appearing to be in conversation with someone or something.
On the downside, its the 'in the moment' nature of their music which prevents a fuller, lasting indentation on its listener. It leaves a soon-to-heal scratch on the consciousness, albeit a very pleasurable one. I suppose that leaves me with a seemingly bizarre request for them to look after their nails, in the hope they keep scratching.