Empty Vessels

Album: Wall of Arms Deluxe Version (2009)
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Songfacts®:

  • Brighton-based Indie rockers The Maccabees persuaded South London rapper Roots Manuva to come on board on a reworked and re-titled version of their 2009 track "No Kind Words." It was released as the lead single from their expanded edition of Wall of Arms. "He put his vocals over the track and we rearranged it and chopped it up a bit," guitarist Hugo White told The London Times January 29, 2010. "The moment he approved what we had done it felt like a success."
  • Frontman Orlando Weeks explained to The London Times that his original lyric was "an appeal to a friend to sort themself out a bit." Manuva's contribution transformed the song into a hip-hop parable of someone getting what he deserves.
  • Orlando Weeks recalled to NME Roots Manueva's arrival to lay down his vocals: "We were in this rehearsal space in Bermondsey, south London," he said, "and someone opened the door to have a cigarette or what you have you and he turned up and cycled straight into the studio without stopping. That set the precedent."

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