Single Review - Nieves - Straight Line

Straight Line  is the first track available to download from Glasgow newcomers Nieves.  A beautiful song which draws heavily upon the Scottish indie/folk tradition and tips a nod to the established hierarchy therein but still retaining that bright spark of originality and form which bodes well for this duo.

Brendan’s vocals narrate a tale of hope in adversity with a flitting combination of raw emotion and anxious desperation over Herre’s stark and engaging piano accompaniment before guitar and back beat move in and signal a moving on.

This is a fine song and a finely crafted first offering and a delivery which has us all waiting eagerly for more from Nieves. Their self titled debut EP is due for release this month and if you can't wait then you can catch them on Saturday 8th November at The Record Factory in Glasgow as part of This Feeling in association with XFM.

- Bobby Motherwell

Nieves - Straight Line  is available to download for free via Nieves' Soundcloud and from the below embed.

Gig Review - Nieves - King Tut's, 20 September 2014

Nieves opted to deliver an acoustic set last night at King Tut's, and with resonant and pulsating beat box metronomity and soaring piano, vocals and guitar, they underlined the reason for the majority of the crowd tonight who turned up to see them alone.   “This is probably all my family in here tonight” Brendan suggests.  Well, not exactly. I sense a following growing for them.

With three uploads onto SoundCloud this year and airplay on BBC Radio 1, Neives could well be the embodiment of the popularist need for a indie/folk band which takes the baton from Admiral Fallow and Frightened Rabbit. 

A six song set was perfectly chorographed and arranged, and included the full SoundCloud compliment of Winter,  Symmetry  and newest track Straight Lines.  A performance which was beyond criticism, it was honest and wholesome, and delivered with a real sense of belief and humility which will bode well for their integrity as greater things undoubtedly come.

As a band, they have all the component parts to be something very big.  Which way the path takes them is entirely within their own hands at the moment.  A new release on the horizon and a very promising future beckons.

- Bobby Motherwell