There’s a certain eloquence to whatever Glasgow’s Blue Sky Archives do and their “Triple A-Side” EP provides evidence of that. This time around, they’ve even recorded their three tracks at the esteemed Chem19 studios just to ensure that they also have the credibility box ticked.
As for the songs? Well, they are pretty much what you expect of a band from the better parts of Glasgow with literacy and general tidiness to the fore. “Bitches” shuffles it stuff most agreeably yet still leaves the spotlight shining on Lauren Mayberry’s girlish vocals. Similarly, Ms Mayberry draws immediate attention on “Cosplay the Hard Way” but the true value of the song is in the pseudo drama of the lyrics and the thoughtful and complex arrangements that provide the sonic landscape. Least impressive – although still a country mile ahead of their lost count after three chords competitors – is “Back In A Liquid Minute” as the bleak lyrics are nearly drowned by a disappointingly dull accompaniment.
Blue Sky Archives are perhaps guilty of playing it a bit safe here as they clearly have the musical ability to experiment more than they do. Apart from that proviso, the mark of quality is clearly stamped upon them.