Skittish change it up with some 2000s garage rock.
Skittish – ‘Mannequin’
‘I kept my hands clean, I kept my heart in rubber’ open the lines of ‘Mannequin’ by Skittish. Sweeping aside the practicalities of putting one’s heart in rubber, it’s an acute line that sets the tone for this quirky yet heartfelt tune dedicated to the conformity of ordinary life, and the individual desires lurking beneath.
Skittish is the project of Midwest-born Jeff Noller, often featuring other musical collaborators and now based in LA. This latest track is a single from the freshly released album ‘Midwest Handshake’ (a euphemism??), which marks a hefty 7th album for Skittish.
‘Mannequin’ is a perfect slice of 2000s-influenced indie rock, celebrating an individual self-awakening.
The titular mannequin represents the plastic existence of those who try to conform, with the chorus featuring some empowering if vaguely horror-movie imagery of mannequins coming alive – ‘You can be yourself now, no one’s watching.’ The lyrics are perfectly crafted and often wry – the narrator ‘burns sage’ as he tries to shake off his old existence. The vocals are a laid-back drawl, delivering natural melodies.
The production centres around a grunge bassline and sharp guitar lines, combined with solid beats to bring to mind classic 2000s bands like Weezer and Wheatus. It’s a departure from Skittish’s more usual 1960s and folk-leaning work, but indicates that this album will be full of surprises for any interested listeners.
Discover more from Skittish
Discover more on RCM
- def.fo wants to Play It Cool
- Blackchords Announce Trawler An Introspective Banger
- Iraina Mancini Shares Her Joyous Debut Album Undo The Blue
- KRANKK Join Forces With PORCELAIN For The Sublime Free
Words Eden Tredwell
