A short while back, myself and Aldo headed along to catch The Bug Club play a gig in Glasgow. One of the support acts on the night was Dancer, a band that had been picking up a great deal of positive press round these parts, not least for being included in the list of Top 20 best albums of 2024 as chosen by highly influential and important record-shop, Monorail.
“For a short while, Dancer felt like our city’s own little secret. The group, made up of Glasgow DIY mainstays (from the likes of Current Affairs and Order of the Toad), released only a few singles but gigged often at Bloc and the Old Hairdressers before their debut full length 10 Songs I Hate About You. The 10 songs in question are a sonic mash-up of melodic warmth and perfectly crafted pop songs with crunch. There’s a similarity to Life Without Buildings in Gemma’s vocal delivery and Chris’ erratic-slash-melodic guitar work, but there’s also, at times, a more chaotic and experimental storm brewing under the surface. A record which takes left turns into new territory every so often when it’s least expected; Gemma cackles, Gavin’s hi-hat taps out a new rhythm, Dancer is no longer a secret. I couldn’t be more glad”
They proved to be an excellent watch and listen in the live setting, and I subsequently went out and bought the debut album, which was released back in March 2024. It was preceded by a couple of EPs and has been followed by a couple of split releases, an EP with Portland-based Whisper Hiss and a 7″ single with R.Aggs, who is better known perhaps as being one half of Glasgow’s Sacred Paws, whose debut release Strike A Match, was given the accolade, and associated prize-money, for being named Scottish Album of the Year in 2017.
The band members are Gemma Fleet (vocals), Chris Taylor (guitar), Andrew Doig (bass) and Gavin Murdoch (drums)
mp3: Dancer – Bluetooth Hell
The opening track on 10 Songs I Hate About You.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 