Manchester’s Worm School make their recorded debut with “Jacob’s Ladder”, a slow-burning cut that feels both intimate and infinite. Released through Brighton label Crafting Room Recordings which is putting out quite a roster of talent right now. First listen to this song you’ll discover all kinds of shoegaze magic. Repeat plays show it’s alive, shimmering with texture, and full of breath.
Recorded with Ben Easton (Deary) and Dom Freeman, then mastered by Simon Scott of Slowdive fame, the track certainly carries a weight of pedigree. the fact that Worm School stamp it with their own quiet authority speaks volumes though. It begins as a gentle hum, Jordan McGuffie‘s bass lines curling like morning mist before Dan Beach‘s guitars rise skyward in a gorgeous, delayed cascade accompanying his sweet vocals. Liv Du Val’s ethereal synths and vocals add a celestial ache before Will Davis’ drumming grounds everything and the swirl begins anew.
The song’s title, taken from the name for some steep Cornish steps of Du Val’s childhood, fits perfectly as this is a climb worth making. The band rise from calm introspection into pure atmospheric lift-off, crafting a sound that feels like standing on a cliff edge, staring into a bright horizon. There’s either a hint of blissful Sigur Ros post-rock in the mix towards the end, or maybe it’s just my heart fluttering.
For a debut, “Jacob’s Ladder” feels incredibly assured. It floats and is dreamy but never soft-headed, reflective yet radiant. Worm School’s patience to release has paid off handsomely, new torchbearers of a sound that’s very much ascending.
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