Super Sludge: Brothers Of. Part Two
In part one, we discussed recording methods, the creative process and musical identity. But how about their actual music? Let us take a closer look at this unique and innovative sound.
Phenomenal Combination
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rohan Kainth has recently been keeping busy playing his new Folk sound at open mics in Brum and the Black Country, but we checked in with the shoegaze-maestro alongside Brothers Of. Producer George Morris a while back discussing their journey.
For those who do not know, the Brothers Of. sound is a melting pot of both Rohan and George’s diverse musical tastes combined into one mind. With the initial releases of ‘From the Fields Above’ and ‘Exile Through the Floor’ the duo worked with psych and hard rock, with both projects having a Led Zeppelin meets Jonestown Massacre aesthetic. Some of my favourite tracks from the first two projects include the song that does what it says on the tin (which is quite the theme with this band’s song titles): ‘Super Sludge’ with its seedy underbelly and slow, cool and drawn-out beat complimented with claps. And ‘Electric Chair Liberation’ is an absolute monster song with a hard rock blues lead riff. The track then features Harmonica and enough Devo post-punk hi-hat action to tickle anyone’s fancy.
This phenomenal combination of psych, shoegaze, classic heavy metal and bluesy hard rock is going to please a lot of stoners out there. And that isn’t to say the cleanest living technically gifted guitarists won’t get a kick either; just check out that guitar solo on ‘Sonic Grieve’ as it is a fine example of expressing the blues on a guitar. Rohan’s angelically smooth, laid-back vocals are mixed and produced expertly by the chief at the faders, George Morris.
Blues Pop Machine
In 2024, their sound has been developed further with more of a focus on folk and country tones rather than the blitzing wall of sound shoegazing extravaganza they took us on before. Their latest single, ‘The Village Idiot’ is extremely bluesy, yet features a drum machine as the beat. This, combined with the acoustic and the wailing harmonica in the background, is what Rohan Kainth has been working with live currently. If an acoustic trip laced with electronica and acid blues is more your thing, ‘SPACE TAPES, Vol. 1’ is for you. This EP is perhaps the most trippy of them all; the sonic landscape on this one is gorgeous. The EP also features more of a shoegaze sound but with reverb rather than mainly fuzzed guitars as on their prior releases.
It is a credit to both George and Rohan for the work they have created, and through cost-effective recording methodologies (as discussed in part one) that are sure to prove as both innovative and inspirational to future practitioners. The story of independent music proves again that to create great art, you don’t need a million pounds. Some innovation and forward thinking can go a long way. George’s production work on their first two EPs is absolutely wonderful and even more so considering it was made in a home studio. Rohan is proving to be a one-man lo-fi psychedelic blues pop machine as they both carve Brothers Of. into West Midlands’ most exciting musical projects at the moment.
As for the future of Brothers Of. Rohan is aiming to record another EP by this summer, with a solo effort again as George Morris takes up other musical duties for the short-term. Expect a wild ride, and be sure to keep an eye out for future shows, albums and videos as the world of Brothers Of. expands into 2025.
