Song of the Day: Hair and Skin Trading Company “LOA”

Hair and Skin Trading Company are a UK-based drone / avant-noise / psych band that popped up as part of the mini early-’90’s psych revival. The group was formed in 1991 by ex-Loop members Neil Mackay and John Wills who were augmented by guitarist Nigel Webb and occasionally Richard Johnston on samples. The group continued where Loop left-off but also layered on extensive psychedelic elements and weird tape effects. The band come off as something of a sleepier, more krautrock-centric, My Bloody Valentine with maybe a little bit of The Fall thrown in for good measure.

“LOA” from Hair and Skin Trading Company‘s second album, Over Valence, is probably the closest the group ever got to writing a pop single. The song has an ethereal glide, an infectious guitar hook and some-interesting proto-grunge breaks. The song is propelled forwards by John Wills‘ “motorik” drumbeat during the verses, which segues into some heavy four-on-the-floor skin pounding during the breaks.