Feature – Banishing Ritual (2017)

Feature – Banishing Ritual (2017)

How sad! Just two EPs and the album we’d been eagerly awaiting… and then nothing!
It’s terrible to finally release the album and then disappear.

This indie rock trio was based in London. Formed in 2012 by Jen Calleja (drums and vocals, also of Sauna Youth) and Liv Willars (guitar and vocals). Heather Perkins (bass and vocals) joined them in 2014. The band released two EPs, a split single with Perkins’ other band, Slowcoaches, and an LP, before splitting up in 2017. 2012 to 2017 – that’s really nothing at all!

The band had played with American bands such as Chain and the Gang, Protomartyr and Julie Ruin – I really regret never having seen them. I discovered them too late. And to think there are punk and post-punk fans who still don’t know them. They’ll be just as disappointed as I was when they finally discover them.

I’d listened to the Tourists EP loads. On repeat, very often. But it was too short for me. And I can really listen to it any time. But I needed more. The only physical copy I could find was the vinyl of this album, even though I didn’t have a record player at the time. There was very little on SoundCloud, and what little there was has almost entirely disappeared. As for Spotify, I’d added a track to one of my favourites playlists and that’s vanished too…

The only way for me to listen to this gem is on Bandcamp! You can’t imagine how excited I was to hear the other tracks… and just how much I wasn’t let down!!!

So, yes, there are other bands with this name or similar names. But this is the one I wanted, and no other.

All the best bands have instrumental tracks! That’s what I tell myself all the time. Feature is no exception to the rule. The album ends with ‘Feature Theme’, which brings this pure delight to a close.

Even the whole album is too short! Just ten tracks, with the shortest, ‘Jealous’, lasting 01:36 and the longest being ‘Gatekeeper’ (04:02), not counting this instrumental, which runs for 04:42.

Some people have a soft spot for trios! So, I can understand if they’re only familiar with bands like The Police, Primus, Nirvana, The Vibrators, Morphine, Blurt, The Wombats, etc. Feature easily makes it onto my list. And when all the members sing a bit, it makes me even happier!

Solid drumming, a great bass sound and a guitar that ties it all together. Sounds I love, tracks that really hit the spot. A very pleasant voice and backing vocals that do the job perfectly. There you go! I could go on for ages and pretend I know my stuff when it comes to technical aspects and arrangements… but the truth is, I listen with my heart. And, often, you either like it or you don’t! I can make an effort with certain bands, but there are plenty of excellent ones that haven’t got the recognition they deserve and which I value highly.

Coming back to ‘Gatekeeper’, what makes the song original is that the verses consist of spoken German with backing vocals to support and reinforce it. I’ve always thought German is a beautiful language when spoken well. And I’ve always stood my ground when it comes to my ideas, even though most people probably don’t agree with me. So what? Just because there are more of them doesn’t mean they’re right! I’d even say: quite the opposite!

Just like other British bands I used to adore – Colour Me Wednesday, for example – Feature’s career was far too short, and I miss them already. Luckily, I can still listen to them every day if I want to…