Chris Tate is a Newcastle-based musicians. Visitors to Ban Ban Ton Ton will know him via his marvellous collaborations with Matt Sewell, as The Gong. Here, however, he adopts the pseudonym, Score, for 7 experimental cuts. 

Highest Praises uses gated synths to fashion a funky, break-like beat. Picking up blues-y guitar picking as it travels, the track’s treated vocals sound like a lullaby, tickled by The Cure’s spiderman. The titular number, Original Copy, is kinda rock’n’roll exotica. Atmospheric and `60s soundtrack-influenced, with harpsichord, twisted tremolo twanging, echoed percussion and drums like handclaps. Think Up is hits the dancefloor with some “Dubhousedisco”, but the emphasis, as with the whole LP, is still on live instrumentation. Giving it a uniquely “organic” feel. 

Word For Word, sorta soft rock, is covered in clever keys and solos. Tiny Spark rides a crazy clipped riff and big, emotive orchestral strings. Spirit Duplicate shuffles, all summery, on a rolling rhythm and flickering fretwork fragments. Creating something that’d be cool accompaniment for a clear-skied coastal drive or mountain hike. The closing Lightbulb Moment is an epic melodica-led march. Footstamping, finger snapping, featuring what could be a violin run backwards and forwards, and building toward uplifting, massed brass fanfares. 

Score’`s Original Copy can be purchased directly from Cruel Nature Records. The pre-orders for vinyl, I think, close on Monday.