Gumshoes

The tambourine player will usher in the apocalypse.

Or so hoped fictional punk band Cacophony. According to Gumshoes maestro and lore master Sam Sparks, the fake 9-piece band he created were the dregs of the ‘90s bands grabbing record label deals as cocaine-fueled executives desperately tried to find the next Nirvana. Cacophony (the album) follows the band in the aftermath of their implosion, each of them putting their faith in a new music avenue for deliverance, whether that be searching for cold hard cash, an alien abduction or summoning the rapture.

If that all sounds a bit too heady for you, don’t worry, it’ll worm its way into your subconscious thanks to the absurdly catchy tunes delivering the tale. “Nobodies” is like Bell and Sebastian at their most ragged, following the pyromaniac guitarist as he builds a bonfire out of his own songs. Meanwhile “Low Fantasy” grooves like a Mario Kart backing tune. Chamber pop bliss, with rapturous consequences. We chatted with Gumshoes below.