Lifter

Lo-fi indie folk group LIFTER are releasing their first album ‘Clasping Hands with the Moribund’ this October.

Having released eight singles between 2021 and 2023, and later compiling them as mini-album Everything So Far in September last year, ‘Clasping Hands…’ marks an introduction to the various styles the band have strived to incorporate in their recent releases.

With the lineup on the tracks consisting of the core duo of the group, former Modern Rituals guitarist Harry Fanshawe and bassist and producer Miles Ward, the band were joined on the recording of these tracks by The Death of Pop co-leader Angus James, Swelt guitarist Chris Hicks, cellists Douglas Evans and Anna Strudwick, violinist Reuben Brunt, backing vocalist Olive Featherstone, cornet player Harry Furniss, and drummers Steven Fry and Oliver Cocup.

In this current incarnation, the band proudly take musical cues from a diverse range of sources, including slowcore, folk, country, and indie rock, and deftly showcase this throughout this latest release. A handful of influences would include The American Analog Set, Nick Drake, XTC, Guided by Voices, and Bill Callahan. Their earlier material often drew comparisons to the likes of Silver Jews and Sparklehorse, all in all adding to a much scrappier and heavier sound in comparison to this more intricate and pastoral sound they’ve begun to adopt.

The band have been noted for their live shows that switch between gentle intimacy and intense bursts of noise, and have shared bills with the likes of bar italia and Wednesday on their recent tours. They’ve also become a staple of Bristol festivals in the last year as well, with sets at Simple Things and Ritual Union garnering warm reception.

LIFTER are Harry Fanshawe (vocals, guitar), Angus James (guitar, vocals), Olive Featherstone (vocals), Chris Hicks (guitar), Miles Ward (bass), Anna Strudwick (cello) and Oli Cocup (drums)