~Sit Tight~
the new album
"It's a thing of wonder. Laden with colour and subtle invention, ‘Sit Tight’ deserves to reach as wide an audience as possible." - CLASH
“Proof that good things come to those who wait, this is one of the most satisfying and intricately crafted albums you’ll hear this year “ - The Irish Times
“Inventive and unforgettable, these pigeonhole-hating iconoclasts have made one of the albums of the year” - Hot Press
"Sit Tight has been worth our wait. The belated return of exmagician is one you maybe didn’t know you needed – until now." - Irish News
"Your soundtrack to lazy summer days, be it in hail or sunshine, awaits. You will love this band." - Daily Mirror
"Danny and James have pulled a rabbit from a hat. They're back with a new album and it's an absolute zinger." - BelfastLive
"As before, they make woozy, sense-mashed tunes with secret pop abilities. Every song has a flourish, a surprise." - Dig With It
“You’re not likely to hear a more meticulously crafted album this year” - The Thin Air
Exmagician have spent the last few years underscoring their status as as one of Ireland's most visionary musical pairings. Comprising lifelong friends Daniel Todd and James Smith, the Belfast duo have been lauded for their carefully-crafted, sun-split psych-pop, initially garnered acclaim with their debut album, Scan The Blue. Released via Bella Union in March 2016, it marked the duo’s transition from their previous band, Cashier No. 9, which won them critical praise with their 2011 album, To the Death of Fun, produced by David Holmes.
After Cashier No. 9 parted way, Todd and Smith set about exploring a rawer, more playful sound. Using a quote from a Pavement lyric as their new moniker, Exmagician emerged with the 2015 EP, Kiss That Wealth Goodbye. Their debut album, Scan The Blue, doubled down on their craft. A sonically adventurous statement, blending fuzzier, grittier sounds with a playful attitude and a wealth of new pedals and synths, it proved self-produced triumph, created with Rocky O'Reilly, showcasing their deep love for eclectic psychedelia via a meticulous attention to detail.
Fast forward to 2024, after an eight-year hiatus, the band have just made their triumphant return with their highly-anticipated second studio album, Sit Tight. Released on June 21st, the album features nine tracks that distill Todd and Smith’s luminous sound, highlighting their mastery as multi-instrumentalists with an extraordinary knack for crafting widescreen pop with a mellow touch.
Reflecting on the writing process behind the album, Danny Todd said: “It hasn't changed that much over the years. Typically, we’re not in the same room sculpting ideas. It develops individually, working best in short bursts. Exploring, developing and living with the idea throughout the day, then grabbing an evening here and there to record. Usually we send seed ideas, then write new parts for each other’s songs. Although we’ve always produced our own music, we were a lot more confident producing this record ourselves.
Sit Tight maintains the self-produced ethos of their debut, with mixing by Chris W Ryan (Robcobra Quartet) who also contributed drumming on four songs. The album's structure, alternating between Todd and Smith's songs, creates a conversational dynamic that showcases their deep creative union. "The sequencing is Danny song, James song, Danny song, James song throughout," reveals Smith. This partnership is evident in standout including 'Dullard' and 'Pistol,' where their soundworlds intersect in a blissed-out dialogue between old friends.
Despite the challenges over the years, including periods without a label or manager, Todd and Smith's shared belief in their music guided them forward. "We were nearly packing it in at times but we knew the album was too good to go to waste, so we figured out how to release it ourselves," says Smith. Todd emphasized the importance of having space and time for creativity, noting, "I think creativity comes from having the space and time to daydream. That space shrinks over time but being creative in this way, making music is always with us."
Their origins can be traced back to a shared love for the Dust Brothers' productions on Beck’s Odelay and Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, as well as influences like Beck, Cornelius, The Beta Band, and Syd Barrett. These eclectic inspirations continue to shape their sound. On Sit Tight, tracks like 'Instinct' and 'Storyline' reflect the supreme attention to detail that defines their work, produced at home with the freedom to explore and experiment. "At home, you have the freedom to explore every idea that comes to you at any time. That and procrastinating over knowing where the finishing line is," says Todd.
Exmagician's music has always been a "studio project" rather than a conventional band. This approach allows them to delve into every idea, embodying a deep spirit of creativity and experimentation. Todd mentions that despite the numerous guitars, Sit Tight isn’t just a guitar record but a product of their shared vision and encouragement to explore new sounds. "It’s not really a guitar record. Generally, in a band you have to convince everyone of a vision but the two of us have always been on the same page creatively and encouraging each other to explore what sound is round the next bend."
Casting an eye back, Exmagician's journey from their early days in Cashier No. 9 to their current status as a celebrated duo with Sit Tight is full testament to an enduring friendship, creative evolution and—perhaps above all else—commitment to their singular craft.
