Pictish Trail - “Slow Memories”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Hozier, BØRNS, Alt-J

Scottish artist Pictish Trail has a sound that is nicely hard to place, presenting a mix of electronic R&B, eclectic indie rock, and soft pop soul over his early records and recent tracks from his upcoming full-length Thumb World. “Slow Memories” is a spacious acoustic/synth ballad, “Turning Back” a dreamy, down-tempo house-pop track, and most recent single “Bad Algebra” even brings some alt country and chamber rock vibes to Pictish Trail’s anything-goes sound. While this all sounds experimental, Pictish Trail is often smooth and tight when listening in from afar, reasonably accessible to only blow out expectations minutes later. Going back to Pictish Trail’s last record Future Echoes finds moments of deep trip hop (“Far Gone (Don’t Leave)”), psych pop groove (“Dead Connections”), and trippy disco (“After Life”), so Thumb World has potential to be an epic, diverse effort within which to both get down and space out. (Kevin McStravick)