Red Horses Of The Snow are a North London duo comprising of Chris Hawtin and Mark Burgess, who introduced themselves with their debut EP in 2009. Two years later, we finally receive their debut LP.
Hawtin takes care of the lyrics, vocals and artwork, while Burgess tends to the music. Opening track Airborne is underpinned by a delightful electronic pulse that opens up the throttle for a shimmering guitar chorus, leading the song to Cocteau Twins/shoegazing waters. Santa Irini and Siam are more restrained cuts, with Burgess deploying pliant layers of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and electronica to cushion Hawtin’s musings upon seaborne travel and the wonders of the east. By Rosemary’s Song, the album develops an aura similar to Ian Brown’s classic Music Of The Spheres, with a laidback but compelling vibe that flows into The Cyclic and Screens. Come the penultimate cut, The Privateer, Red Horses charge into a pop song that picks at the fabric of China Crisis and hits home with the chorus refrain, “It is really fear of nothing.” Our only regret is that, after two-and-a-half minutes, the song enters an extended coda.
