You’ve probably heard about Catrin Vincent’s voice by now, even if you haven’t actually heard it. Since her band Another Sky emerged onto the scene, critics and music fans have been falling over themselves in amazement at the frightening, devastating, all-consuming highs and lows she reaches. The Guardian music critic Caroline Sullivan described it as “the strangest, most haunting voice I’ve heard in ages.” It is as otherworldly as you can imagine a human voice can be.

But it’s the range of emotions she can convey which really blows you away, and the swiftness with which she can switch from angelic, soaring optimism to the depths of the fiercest, gut-wrenching pain. Its impact is instant within seconds of listening to Another Sky for the first time, and it stops you in your tracks.

The danger, then, is that the band are written off as nothing more than a vehicle for Vincent’s talents. Thankfully, with debut album, I Slept On The Floor, they prove that that is far from the case. The rock four-piece, comprised of Vincent (vocals and guitar), Max Doohan (drums) Naomi Le Dune (bass) and Jack Gilbert (guitar), met when they studied music together at Goldsmiths and took their name from an Emily Dickinson poem.

After an almost instrumental opener, Fell In Love With The City offers the first glimpse of what Vincent is capable of. Lyrically it documents her own move from provincial, middle of the road England, with all it’s tedium and ills, to the big city, But outside of the vocals, it’s also an urgent, arresting track that sets the tone for much of the album.

Riverbed is a beautiful offering that evokes feelings of Radiohead, and sees Vincent’s vocals hit their operatic best, while title track I Slept On The Floor flirts with electro and ends up an ethereal and oddly captivating affair. After a slow-build of a start, Avalanche culminates in raucous manner, with a glorious mix of vocals and swirling guitars across a snarling, barked chorus. Let Us Be Broken starts off with a Stone Roses-esque intro, but morphs into a triumphant, rallying cry that is among the best songs on the album.

Vincent’s voice is likely to be the main attraction here for many, and I can see why. But listen, properly listen, and you’ll see that its one incredible component among many others that combine to make Another Sky one of the most exciting new acts around right now.

I Slept On The Floor track list:

1. How Long?

2. Fell In Love With The City

3. Brave Face

4. Riverbed

5. The Cracks

6. I Slept On The Floor

7. Life Was Coming In Through The Blinds

8. Tree 9. Avalanche

10. Let Us Be Broken

11. All Ends

12. Only Rain

Buy or stream I Slept On The Floor through Another Sky’s official website.

 Indie       Alternative 

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.