The Undergroun Youth – Beautiful & Damned EP (Out Now via Fuzz Club Records))

As first song ‘Behind’ slowly builds, the listener fully understanding that this is not your typical music fare, shoegaze leanings meet post –pink influence. Think Jesus  and Mary Chain, distortion pedal free challenged by a subdued mood and love of the more minimal approach. Thus begins the  Beautiful & Damned EP, the latest instalment from Manchester’s hyper-prolific Craig Dyer, poète maudit, continues his incessant musical journey through the realms of Rock & Roll and literature with Beautiful & Damned.

The EP is said to be a homage to F. Scott Fitzgerald, the 4 track EP of The Underground Youth helps detail Dyer’s obsession for the darkest side of literature and poetry of the last two centuries, as well as his proud never-give-up / we-don’t-give-a-f**k DIY approach. In evidence since 2009, The Underground Youth have made the unique achievement of producing an impressive and extensive catalogue EP e of beautifully home-crafted EPs and LPs, putting them out on limited edition vinyl and gaining a dedicated cult following from all sides of the globe.

Rigorously recorded in their home-studio with the help of producer James Shillito in early 2014, Beautiful & Damned EP continues on intriguing form, with ‘Damned’ swerves then eventually fractures into a driving electro beat and guitar to close, the guitar refrain opening to ‘Naked’ is familiar despite only hailing from parts of Greater Manchester and Crawley, the sound is still as tight, almost warm. as the sombre mood continues on last track, the aptly titled  ‘Shadow’, the lyric is both potent and darker, synth and accompanied by a stripped back guitar lines keeping expectations fresh for a full length release.   Beautiful & Damned EP may well polarise, you almost the four tracks are not a commercial exercise as such. which is exactly why I value The Underground Youth, even with their collective toned down artful quality. 7.8/10

Here is the new video of ‘Naked’