Tindersticks

Tindersticks were one of the most original and distinctive British acts of the ’90s, standing apart from both the British indie scene and the rash of Brit-pop guitar combos that dominated the U.K. charts. Where their contemporaries were often direct and to the point, Tindersticks were obtuse and leisurely, crafting dense, difficult songs layered with literary lyrics, intertwining melodies, mumbling vocals, and gently melancholy orchestrations. Essentially, the group filtered the dark romanticism of Ian Curtis, and through the bizarre pop songcraft of and the aesthetics of indie rock. Though their music was far from casual listening, Tindersticks gained a dedicated cult following in the mid-’90s, beginning with their eponymous 1993 debut album, which was named Album of the Year by Melody Maker. At their best — their 1993 and 1995 self-titled albums, 1997’s Curtains, 2001’s Can Our Love …, and 2012’s The Something Rain — Tindersticks crafted richly orchestrated, darkly beautiful music that often felt like soundtracks to imaginary movies. A tangible sense of mutual curiosity propels the five members of Tindersticks to fresh territory on Soft Tissue, their 14th studio album.