Thread Pulls are a rhythm section that have avoided the ego problems of lead guitarists and singers in order to go it alone. So bassist Gavin Duffy and drummer Peter Maybury have carved out a niche producing gritty and grimy drum ‘n’ bass concoctions. Okay, that’s slightly disingenuous, because this record doesn’t just contain a rock-and-roll rhythm section. The duo are augmented by mantra-like, sometimes falsettoed, sometimes ranty, vocals from the bass-player, and an array of interesting harmonic textures from synths, trumpets, electronics, guitar pedals and well-calibrated reverb units.
But at their core, Thread Pulls really are a rhythm section and New Thoughts is basically all about the grooves. While Duffy conjures hypnotic riffs, Maybury’s drums eschew obvious rhythms in favour of something obstinately wonkier and more difficult to dance to. It’s all very sparse and moody – in other words, what would happen if Colm McCarthy and Bord Snip were sent into an inefficient and bloated early ‘90s shoegazing band and asked to go on a cost cutting, personnel firing spree? Yup, Thread Pulls are the reformed, rationalised, efficient rock-making machine of the future. Dodgy economic metaphors aside, however, they really are very good.