CASSELS’ new album “Tracked In Mud” takes you on a gritty journey
The musical journey of Cassels, helmed by the Beck brothers, has been a tumultuous one marked by persistence and defiance. Growing up far from the urban clamor, the Becks found solace and inspiration in their father’s eclectic record collection, spurning mainstream media influences. Jim ventured to London, seeking a platform for their music, facing a specter of anonymity and uncertainty. The band’s early days were steeped in the struggle and hardships typical of aspiring musicians—playing for meager proceeds, navigating through near-empty venues, and contending with unscrupulous promoters.
The release of their latest album, “Tracked In Mud,” on March 7, 2025, through Brighton’s Human Worth label, showcases a marked departure in Cassels’ sonic landscape. Forsaking the indie-rock dalliances and satirical character studies of their past works, the album delves into raw, primal territory, exploring themes of humanity’s disconnection from nature. Jim, disenchanted by the pop-culture references of their previous record, immersed himself in Converge, infusing the album with a visceral intensity that eschews superficiality in favor of gritty authenticity.
“Tracked In Mud” signifies a deliberate departure from their traditional songwriting approach, with Jim discarding first-person narratives and embracing a more abstract, associative storytelling style. The album’s lyrics now veer towards impressionistic allusions rather than straightforward messages, inviting listeners to interpret and engage with the music on a deeper, personal level.
At its core, the album scrutinizes humanity’s futile attempts to suppress its primal instincts, highlighting the dichotomies between civilization and nature, order and chaos, and industry and wilderness. Field recordings, including the cacophony of geese, thread through the album, underscoring the elemental clash between modernity and the natural world.
Teaming up with producer Alex Petersen for the first time since their debut EP, the Becks embarked on a rigorous two-week recording session in their Harringay warehouse. This isolation facilitated the creation of not just a collection of songs, but a visceral documentation of life within a crumbling societal framework. The album veers between jarring intensity and eerie calm, inviting listeners on a sensory rollercoaster that challenges conventions and defies expectations.
As the band gears up for a modest tour with Pure Adult, balancing their musical endeavors with real-life constraints like day jobs and familial responsibilities, the future remains uncertain. Cassels’ journey continues to be mapped on their own terms, eschewing the pressures of industry demands and valuing artistic integrity above all else. “Tracked In Mud” is an unapologetic assertion of Cassels’ musical evolution, a testament to their unwavering dedication to authenticity and creative innovation.