Episode 190 - Houdini by Long Fin Killie w/ Kapil Seshasayee
Download
This week we’re joined by the multi-talented troubadour, promoter and friend, Kapil Seshasayee as he picks the debut album by little known Scottish post rockers Long Fin Killie.
Post rock is perhaps only one way of defining this band., but it’s probably the most accurate label to affix to them when it comes to Houdini. Incorporating a myriad of American post rock influences that were floating around this tiny scene at the time, the band, fronted by writer Luke Sutherland, made extensive use their impressive multi-instrumental talents to weave violin, bouzouki, mandolin, hammer dulcimer, saxophone, trumpets, keyboards and so much more alongside the standard two guitars, drums, bass and vocal setup.
The band did achieve a reasonable amount in their short lifetime though, and released another two albums after this, inching away from post rock to something a little more post-hardcore and straight forward.
Luke Sutherland would later go on to play with Mogwai for years as a touring member and occasional contributor, so whilst they may not be hugely well known, they certainly had an influence on the nascent British post rock scene at the time.
So, I think it’s fair to say that this band, and this album, firmly tick all the boxes of being “unsung” indeed. It is up to you to decide if Houdini is worthy of inclusion in our discography.
But before you do that, do take a second to check out Kapil’s work too! He’s an artist whose profile has consistently risen over the last few years on the back of his debut album A Sacred Bore. It’s a journey which has seen him appear on festivals and tours on both sides of the Atlantic, and saw him gain press in The Guardian, VICE, BBC radio, Rolling Stone, and much more.
Check out his website for more info on his music and the message behind his truly unique, captivating music.