Album Review

Redtrack – Whole Town’s Heart

• 23rd Aug 2010

If quotes from other artists are to go by then, “My new favourite band” – quoted by Pete Shelley, should give the listener music steeped in attitude, punkability and a little dose of pop – like the Buzzcocks.

But Redtrack are the band that Pete Shelley – he did produce it, hence the biased opinion – has so elegantly propped up high on an indie pedestal that it should put a smile on anyones face with a penchant for homegrown lyrics and staccato guitar lines that have been a part of this country’s musical export for the last decade.

Redtracks debut album ‘Whole Town’s Heart’ has the credentials and comparasions of big name acts such as Arctic Monkeys, The Macabees and Arcade Fire with which they are obviously inspired by.

It’s a generic, almost a predictable slab of music carved from the school of wearing your guitar high with pointy shoes. Where the band’s outfit actually has more value than the music. I may be sounding harsh on this but the band does have potential to go further and break free from their indie convictions and they are trying. Just.

There are some moments of absolute pure musicianship and magic. Take the intro to ‘Catch Me Out’ full of and dreamy vocals and a song defining bass movement or the acoustic track ‘Memory Card’ offering a glimpse of a songwriter’s tribute to classical style guitars with perfectly harmonized vocal lines. The end track ‘Pretty Boy’ ends the album with alternating male/female vocals along a racing almost punky undertone.

With most songs being short and sweet under 3 minutes, Redtrack have the capacity and talent in creating digestible music for a crowd who likes their music like their visit to Topman – familiar, fresh and fashionable.

Redtrack certainly need heavy doses of originality and innovation if they are ever to break free of this stigmatization and further themselves away from the pack. And after considering the high points of this album, if they stick to their moments of magic, they could just not be an indie band, but an indie band with invention. The question is…..will they ever want to?