Having only just discovered what a damn fine band Rx Bandits are (yeah I know, I'm late), it was extremely pleasing to get this little gem of an album from The Wayriders, straddling the genres of ska, melodic punk rock and even a touch of swing in there too. Whether it’s the slow-burn of the opener ‘We Probably Hate You Too’ or the funky punch of ‘Secret’ I really think that The Wayriders have constructed some of the finest ska-inflected tracks of 2004 so far.
The ska influence stretches beyond the trad upstroke trend, with the horn section being used to pick out specific harmonies rather than just sit on top of the guitars. The combination of heavy riffs and euphoric horn lines in ‘Secret’ move away from the familiar ‘punk with horns’ sound, as the minor-key melodies give a sense of menace and energy that runs throughout the album. ‘She’s Gone Hollywood’ is an instantly hummable track that showcases Andy’s scratchy vocals perfectly, sounding sun-kissed and gritty-as-fuck at the same time, almost reminiscent of Matt from Howards Alias while still being individual enough to avoid instant categorisation.
As an album ‘The Wayriders’ succeeds because it specifically touches upon so many different musical themes without sounding either contrived or vacant. There’s a depth to ‘2 Players + Up’ and ‘Number 12 Looks Just Like You’ that is down to the sound given by a pretty heavy guitar duelling with the obviously lighter horn section – it’s almost cinematic in the way that the separate instruments weave around each other without relying on the simplistic ska sound that seems to dog so many people’s understanding of the genre. The imagination of ‘Love Street Excess with its funky bassline and intelligently underplayed guitar work set it aside as one of the most intricate tracks on the album, as well as suggesting that The Wayriders are a stupidly talented bunch of people.
If you like Rx Bandits then go buy this…if you like The Police or even someone like Ella Fitzgerald then go buy this…it’s a great example of a young band having cultivated their sound and taking a few risks. It feels like easy listening because it’s all soaked in some fantastically catchy melodies, but closer listening reveals a veritable palimpsest of musical motifs all combining to strong effect.
Ben
www.thewayriders.com
