Inspired by A Beautiful Mess, I started my own Music Jar of 52 artists I did not know enough about. Each week, I pick an artist at random from a pickle jar and get to grips with what they are offering.
This week was the turn of Texan dream-pop band, Cigarettes After Sex. The band formed in 2008 and are known for their ethereal and sad songs, two words which you should know are right up my sadboi street.
What I Knew Before
I knew I would like the band. I could tell from the kind of friends who recommended them initially and then followed up on my Instagram post announcing that they were my artist of the week. Aside from that, I knew little of their music, maybe the occasional track had made it onto a soundtrack I adored, but I didn’t know much beyond that. The name seemed very provocative, one of those wonderful monikers that told you everything you needed to know about a band before you had even dipped into their discography.
What I Know Now
The band stake Francoise Hardy and Miles Davis as having a big influence on their music and it is easy to see why. There is something very distant and sexy about their songs, the kind of music you would want playing at the break of dawn as a party dies down and your lips ache from kissing.
To me, they fit into the same space as The XX, who I am also a big fan of. The songs feel like they have entire stories behind them, worlds even. They create a scape through which one can live vicariously.
Favourite song:
Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby, Apocalypse, K.
Favourite album:
Cry.
Paul Schiernecker 
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