'Psychadelic folktronica' may sound like a pretentious label to give your band, but in the case of Liverpool three-piece Stealing Sheep, there is little else that fits the bill. The three girls capped off an impressive 2011 with a headline show at London's Old Blue Last, and all sings point to an exciting year ahead for the trio. As a little taster, the band have given away the below song 'Paper Moon'.

Stealing Sheep 'Paper Moon' by heavenlyrecordings

Taking their name from a newspaper headline involving Scandinavian black metal of all things, Stealing Sheep came into being in 2010, Rebecca, Emily and Lucy uniting to create a sound which instantly evokes the 60s, low-fi synths droning beneath layers of mesmeric rhythms, and vocal harmonies which blend memories of golden summers and new ideas with a haziness able to spring a subtle melancholy on the listener at will. It is a combination which prompted Heavenly Records to snap up the band in preparation for their first full-length album in the Spring, debut EP 'Noah & The Paper Moon' providing a tantalising glimpse into the girls' repertoire.

Keen to play down their feminine image, Stealing Sheep have steered well clear of the pitfalls associated with all-girl acts. Teasingly short single 'I Am The Rain' spirals straight out the modern folk revival, chanted backing vocals meshing seamlessly with downbeat percussion to create a sound bordering on the spiritual, whilst final track 'Paper Moon' hangs low in a misty night sky, haunting harmonies swirling about a hand-clapping chorus and sporadic guitar notes which drift freely alongside.

Simply put, Stealing Sheep are doing something different, and the results are promising. Supporting slots for the likes of Emmy The Great and Efterklang have been just rewards for a brief career which has sought to experiment, and their debut album will certainly be one to watch out for. In the meantime, have a listen to their single 'I Am The Rain:'