JUNE 2009
Judging by the latest offering from Devon quintet The Rumble Strips, the band was unhappy with the reception given to its 2007 debut Girls and Weather. Its mix of screaming brass and perfect pop arrangements won popular acclaim, but it did not afford them a place at the top table of British music – more positioning them as the excitable Springer Spaniel chewing on the chair leg of noughties indie.
Maybe that is unfair, but The Walk Alone certainly marks a new departure for the band. Gone are the punchy, euphoric climaxes that distinguished singles such as “Motorcycle,” to be replaced by a more orchestral, reflective feel. The previously raucous brass is brought under control in songs such as ‘Daniel’ and ‘Sweet Heart Hooligan,’ where strings and heavy piano chords are instead tasked to deliver weight and contrast.
This approach perhaps explains the album’s unsatisfactorily soft centre and it is no surprise that the album delivers whenever the band spring back to the form and style that marked their first album. ‘London’ and, in particular, ‘Not the only person’ are corking tracks with choruses that elevate and climaxes that deliver. One aspect of the album that consistently delivers is the vocal performance of front man Charlie Wheeler, who somehow manages to cross Ricky Wilson with Freddie Mercury and end up sounding more than respectable.
Overall, it is an enjoyable album; what is frustrating is that the band seems unwilling to return to springer spaniel territory, and fill the album with the zest and life which characterised songs such as ‘Alarm Clock’ and ‘Motorcycle.’ Opening track Welcome to the Walk Alone is indisputably a great song, but its sombre tone does not play to the band’s strengths. Maybe producer Mark Ronson was wary of loading the album with the trumpet twills for which he has a reputation. But as far as I’m concerned, bring them on. The Rumble Strips are essentially a fun, joyous band – they need to rediscover that next time around.
Judging by the latest offering from Devon quintet The Rumble Strips, the band was unhappy with the reception given to its 2007 debut Girls and Weather. Its mix of screaming brass and perfect pop arrangements won popular acclaim, but it did not afford them a place at the top table of British music – more positioning them as the excitable Springer Spaniel chewing on the chair leg of noughties indie.
Maybe that is unfair, but The Walk Alone certainly marks a new departure for the band. Gone are the punchy, euphoric climaxes that distinguished singles such as “Motorcycle,” to be replaced by a more orchestral, reflective feel. The previously raucous brass is brought under control in songs such as ‘Daniel’ and ‘Sweet Heart Hooligan,’ where strings and heavy piano chords are instead tasked to deliver weight and contrast.
This approach perhaps explains the album’s unsatisfactorily soft centre and it is no surprise that the album delivers whenever the band spring back to the form and style that marked their first album. ‘London’ and, in particular, ‘Not the only person’ are corking tracks with choruses that elevate and climaxes that deliver. One aspect of the album that consistently delivers is the vocal performance of front man Charlie Wheeler, who somehow manages to cross Ricky Wilson with Freddie Mercury and end up sounding more than respectable.
Overall, it is an enjoyable album; what is frustrating is that the band seems unwilling to return to springer spaniel territory, and fill the album with the zest and life which characterised songs such as ‘Alarm Clock’ and ‘Motorcycle.’ Opening track Welcome to the Walk Alone is indisputably a great song, but its sombre tone does not play to the band’s strengths. Maybe producer Mark Ronson was wary of loading the album with the trumpet twills for which he has a reputation. But as far as I’m concerned, bring them on. The Rumble Strips are essentially a fun, joyous band – they need to rediscover that next time around.
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