Managed by the team behind the team who brought you The Vaccines and White Lies, London-based quintet Zulu Winter have come from nowhere in under a year to be on course to rival both their management stable-mates. Considering that this is based on the band having (at that time) played a gig count that hadnt even reached double figures, and prior to their first release, well, you have to sit up and listen, dont you?
And well worth a listen is this debut double A-sided offering. In fact, its not just worth it - it is essential, for this is a band who, without doubt, will be headlining the big venues within the next twelve months. The upbeat and poppy Never Leave is pinned by the synth chord layering of Dom Millard throughout, overlaid with rolling rhythmic drums, and a midway break change of guitar that swirls and builds comfortably in and around its infectious heartbeat of Will Daunts vocals.
Turn over and Lets Move Back To Front again works the steady drums of Guy Henderson to create a base with the swooning delayed guitar effects of Henry Walton and bassist Ian Lock, that rock into a jumpy rhythm pattern, alongside the soaring falsetto vocal.
Melody, style, catchy choruses and foot-tapping beats, seductive lyrics, that all combine together to make something that is both pleasing to the ear, and innovatively woven together. Come on, you dont often get treated to that much all in one package for the price of a bag of chips, do you?
The band have recently been opening across Europe and the UK on a handful of dates with the likes of Givers and Braids, as well as playing the recent Constellations festival in Leeds. With just three more live shows (Brixton on 24th November with Friendly Fires; Bristol Anson Rooms on 27th, and Dublin, Olympia, 28th), it can only be recommended that you get along and hear the rest of their eight-song set. It will be worth it.