Album Review

The Ran-Tan Waltz – Here Lies EP

• 13th Jun 2012

The Ran-Tan Waltz are a South Yorkshire based five piece band who describe their music as “gloomy and gothic with a trace of ‘60’s-inspired psychedelia”, which seems pretty accurate. The band name comes from the Kate Bush track of the same name, I assume.

The band sent me a link to their Here Lies EP and I’m very glad they did so, as it contains two excellent songs that are melodic and pleasing. The songwriting is good and the production by Steve Whitfield, who has worked with The Cure amongst others, allows the high quality instrumentation to shine.

Bogata begins with a soft piano and then a delicate guitar melody that runs through the track. The vocals are smooth and even throughout and as the pace picks up the track soars nicely. Late on a lovely bass line powers its way through to complement the melody superbly. Bogata is a track with depth and power.

Helm Of The Percalito is an ode to singer Kirsty MacColl, whose face features on the cover of the EP. MacColl was killed while diving in Mexico in 2000 in rather mysterious circumstances that have never really been explained. The speedboat involved was called Percalito.

This is a darkly beautiful track. The intricate drum beat and delicate guitar melody that back the vocals set the sombre tone nicely and the minimal lyrics are simple yet emotive. The song develops as strings take over and a simple refrain is repeated before one last guitar chord ends it.

These two tracks give a taste of the quality of music that The Ran-Tan Waltz are capable of producing. I hear that there will be something new coming out in the near future and I’m very much looking forward to hearing it.

The Hear Lies EP can be heard and downloaded at this link: [link]