Sunday Driver have been on the music scene for over twenty years, and are now debuting on our blog thanks to their fourth album, Silk and Filth.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Suzi Corker

Opening with the long, ponderous, Eastern-tinged Malice Scourge, Silk and Filth wastes no time building atmosphere. It draws us in gently but assuredly in before relaxing into the hypnotic groove of its title track. It blends East and West beautifully during a track full of mystery and emotion.

Lead Single Devils tackles themes of change, loss, nostalgia and loneliness through a contemplative and jazzy number. Ethereal vocals are contrasted nicely through an earthly, classical-tinged instrumental. It leads into the tumultuous Bank Job which tells the story of two South Indian housewives who run away together and rob a bank.

Throughout the album, we get references to British-Indian history. Red Dragon, for instance, was the name of the first British ship to reach India. Death of Johnny Company is a reference to the British East India Company. The result is a feeling of the epic and the important.

Elsewhere Panda Ballet provides a palate-cleansing harp interlude, Les Amoureuses deploys pidgin French and folk rock, and We Don’t Belong gives us a reggae twist.

Sunday Driver are such a unique proposition and their new album is one that’s easy to get lost in. Their viewpoint and musical expertise shine through from start to finish.

Silk and Filth is out 7 March 2025. You can pre-order it here. Sunday Driver will be launching it at The Portland Arms, Cambridge the same day, then at The Lexington in London on 21 March.