Luton rock band ScreamingMechanicalBrain have released their latest single, Repair of Small Objects, a dark, atmospheric eight-minute epic cinematic opus of a new single ahead of a big hometown show at The Castle.
The new track, out now, is the second in a trilogy of singles due this year from the cult Luton outfit, known for blending alt-rock and heavy, grunge-influenced riffs with thought-provoking lyrics and soaring soundscapes.
It follows their previous release on Luton label Vandalism Begins at Home Records, called ‘Some Of You Need To Go To Church, I Don’t Want You In Hell With Me’.
“’Repair…’ definitely feels like a sister song to ‘Church’, both sonically and lyrically,” said lead singer Nik Scott, adding: “It comes from the darkness and lives there, while also holding an element of hope.”
The track is inspired by The Magicians, a trilogy of novels by Lev Grossman that was later adapted into a TV series by Sera Gamble, and the author has responded by liking the band’s post on Instagram.
“This is the first of our singles that isn’t entirely from the deep, dark recesses of my mind,” said Scott, adding: “A character in the show, Quentin, dies in such a way that it makes him question if he sacrificed himself in order to save his friends, or if his history of suicide attempts meant that he finally found a way to achieve his goal. It’s an interesting reflection on the idea of suicidal ideation, and one I wanted to use and approach from a different artistic angle.”
Scott, who admits the books and series had a deep personal impact – “as is evident by the tattoos on my knuckles, and the names of my cats” – says the lyrics were drawn from two key conversations the character has: one before death and one after.
Musically, ‘Repair of Small Objects’ grew from a jam session to create what Scott describes as a “climb to the top of a mountain, with continuing escalation and twists and turns up to the peak, before relaxing into a subtle denouement”.
While originally intended to be sparse and lo-fi, the song took on a more layered production in the studio.
“We failed at that entirely, and instead ended up building a lot into it,” said Scott. “It’s the track with the most so far in the way of backing vocals, and Tim and I went back and forth adding in string sections to the background to give it more atmosphere and support to some of the guitar parts from Ash. It might well be the most ‘produced’ track so far, and we love it for what it has become.”
Live, the song has only had limited outings so far, but is set to be showcased when the band headline in Luton for the first time on Saturday August 30, at The Castle, supported by Wot Gorilla? and The Deities.
“It seems to have gone down well, but we’ve restricted it to a single venue so far – one that has been giving us some extra space to play extended sets,” said Scott. “It’s been a good opportunity to help shape the song in front of an audience, but a very safe audience. We’re very much looking forward to getting it out into the world at large.”
