The Scottish accent is quite divisive: many people, including a fair few I know, can't abide The Twilight Sad on account of James Graham's dense Glaswegian accent. It's certainly a key element of their sound, and something that serves to set them apart. They're by no means alone in their keen sense of Scottish identity, and Edinburgh five-piece Letters are the latest band for whom their geography is core to their sound, and as such continue to do for Scottish music what Irvine Welsh has done for Scottish literature.
Those who find the accent to be an obstacle to their enjoyment are seriously missing out: Letters' double A-side debut is a wonderfully crafted creation, the two songs being magnificently rich in texture and emotion, the brooding cello countered by explosions of guitar to forge a sound that's heavy and yet soars at the same time.
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Everything about these two tracks is nuanced and displays manifold depths and details, from the composition to the lyrics, not to mention the carefully arranged sound. Yet there's an equally remarkable immediacy to the songs as well, making for compelling and rewarding listening.
Letters Online
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