Formed from the ashes of Hug who released three eps and an album on Kitchenware in the 90's and were hotly tipped by the NME, Radio 1 and Mark Radcliffe, Overspill Poets head out in a new direction, blending driving alternative rock and alt country guitar jangle with vocals that root them firmly in the North of England. It's a sound that's been descibed as "Bob Mould crashing into REM on Johnny Cash's iPod" and frequently labelled "Ultimate Driving Music".
Inspired by a chance visit to the Idaho town of the same name, their debut album's title track, Thompson Falls, tells the story of a girl who, despite her big ambitions, fails to escape her home town, becoming weighed down with other peoples expectations. Learning to hide her dreams in shadows on the wall, she absent-mindedly hangs the shopping on the line while her trailer, her "ticket out", is left to rust on bricks in the yard.
Bookending the other end of the album is Tomorrow When You Leave with lyrics borrowed from the 17th Century Metaphysical (and original Overspill) poet, John Donne.
"A richly crafted piece which comes from the heart"
- Mandy Williams, Diskant
"A fine piece of musical art"
- Nick C, NME-Europe (Mar 20, 2009)
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