Take a Lover

Early Mammal are a three-piece based in the home of South London sludge, Dropout Studios. Formed in 2012, Early Mammal are Rob Herian: guitar, drone box, vocals; Ben Davis: drums; and Ben Tat: bass and baritone guitars. The band released two well-received albums in 2013. Horror at Pleasure, their debut, was released in April of that year on Devouter, and features Denis Belindir providing cosmos-expanding synth on it's dark, brooding invitation through the woods of the mind. As with all of their works to date, it was recorded live at Dropout over the course of three days. Horror at Pleasure combines raw power and claustrophobic psych blues, coaxing and sometimes dragging the listener through it's journey. Influences from Captain Beefheart, Aphrodite's Child, White Hills, Hawkwind, and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats can be heard. Less than half a year later, the band released My Fire on Convoy Records. This album found Dan Davies (Wolf People) joining to record a more experimental late-night driving experience through psych-rock, with Belindir's distinctive Turkish-tinged synth really taking the trip to different levels. These releases led to the band supporting Bong and performing at Baba Yaga's Hut gigs around London, including the Raw Power Festival 2014. After Belindir's sudden departure, the band regrouped with a reinvigorated sound. Taking the experimentation of My Fire and the narcotic muscularity of Horror at Pleasure, this album represents a new chapter of greater depth. With the arrival of Ben Tat on bass and baritone guitars, the band shares two common ancestors now: Elks and 85 Bears. Take a Lover reflects the sound of a lineup finding order through the entropy of extended jams and developing their sound. Recorded at Dropout Studios by the band. Take a Lover is live and captures a stream of single takes from two days of winter, December 2014. It has become the catalyst for more prolific recording and sets the tone for where Early Mammal are going next.