First Glances – The Gentle Spring
First Glances – The Gentle Spring
The Gentle Spring is a new project from Michael Hiscock, formerly of The Field Mice. Hiscock had been a founding member of The Field Mice along with Robert Wratten. Their legendary label, Sarah Records cultivated an extensive roster of artists. However it was The Field Mice who gained the highest profile and perhaps most personified the Bristol imprints ‘twee, indie pop’ ethos.
After a string of independent hits around the turn of the decade The Field Mice disbanded in 1991. Wratten went on to form Northern Picture Library and Trembling Blue Stars. However The Gentle Spring marks Hiscocks first venture back into recorded music.
Having been fortunate enough to hear The Gentle Springs forthcoming album Looking Back At The World I can confirm that Hiscock truly is ‘back’. Here accompanied by Émilie Guillaumot, Hiscock now takes on lead duties and guitars as well as bass. Guillaumot provides keyboards & backing vocals which work extremely well. The third member is Jérémie Orsel – guitar.
So is The Gentle Spring, Field Mice version 2.0? Not quite but the music is sufficiently adjacent that fans should certainly take a listen. It really is like he’d never been away. I can hear hints of the old, hints of new, something borrowed and, certainly, plenty of blue.
Perhaps they should do weddings?
Pre-order the album via Skep Wax Records. Debut single out now via Too Good To Be True, a French label based in Brest. That is a town currently buoyed by the startling success of their local football club who have risen from the second tier to the heights of the Champions league no less.
Can The Gentle Spring do similar? We shall wait and see.
Looking Back At The World is out in January.