Around this time last week I received another piece of bad news music wise. This Et Al split up, due to irreconcilable differences within the band if I remember correctly. It seemed more personal than musical, which at least makes more sense. Still it was very disturbing news, This Et Al are very, very good. Not only are they very good, but they had just released an excellent EP in The Figure Eight EP and were talking about a forthcoming album. One can only assume any forthcoming album would have been awesome as both their debut and the more recent EP were impeccable. Still I guess there is nothing you can do but celebrate the good music they did make and move on.
Fortunately I managed to catch This Et Al live, once. This was at the Leeds ¡Forward, Russia! gig before FR went off to record Life Processes. I would’ve been genuinely annoyed had I never caught them live, because they were excellent even as a support act. The Loveliest Alarm, already transfixing on record, was amazing live. In The Loveliest Alarm and Cabin Hum This Et Al conjured two of the most beautiful songs in recent times, while the rest of their debut was largely brutal (in a good way), The Figure Eight EP showed more offerings from the delicate side of the band. Hopefully these loose ends will be followed up in any forthcoming new projects.
Coming off the back of Shut Your Eyes And You’ll Burst Into Flames splitting up I can’t help but feel a large hole is starting to develop in my favourite music. Two excellent bands and the very good I Was A Cub Scout as well, not one of them will be producing any more music. I guess it’s at times like this you can be thankful that so much new music, from so many new bands, comes along every year.
Anyway, for now enjoy some This Et Al. There is some talk of a b-sides and rarities CD, hopefully that will come to fruition.