Red Sands – Red Sands (2014) review
Red Sands “Red Sands” (Electone, 2014)
Released a good few months ago on the Electone label – home
to Liverpool’s The Wicked Whispers.
to Liverpool’s The Wicked Whispers.
Upon first listen to Red Sands, you’re not altogether sure
what’s in store as they begin proceedings with what is an anticipatory slice of
mellow wistfulness called ‘Lady Of Spring’. It features some spangling sitar
flourishes and gently woven Hammond which, although a little obvious (my choice
not the group’s usage) recalls a little of the embryonic efforts by such
distant pioneers as Traffic, but things don’t progress down that particular
road for very long. Soon it’s their indirect pop nous that’s in focus, becoming
both effective and, especially during the delightful ‘So Is The Sun’ and ‘Mrs
Cosgrove’, quite infectious too.
what’s in store as they begin proceedings with what is an anticipatory slice of
mellow wistfulness called ‘Lady Of Spring’. It features some spangling sitar
flourishes and gently woven Hammond which, although a little obvious (my choice
not the group’s usage) recalls a little of the embryonic efforts by such
distant pioneers as Traffic, but things don’t progress down that particular
road for very long. Soon it’s their indirect pop nous that’s in focus, becoming
both effective and, especially during the delightful ‘So Is The Sun’ and ‘Mrs
Cosgrove’, quite infectious too.
At times the guitars and drums sound perhaps more modern-age
Scottish than you’d like (Red Sands hail from around the Glasgow area) but the
overall feel of the selected material brings to mind some of the innovative
works that groups like, say The La’s were consciously building on back in their
day; although it’s only a subtle reminder it’s worth noting that certainly some
of the vocal patterns and rhythmic pulsings here and there tend to push and
pull in similar ways. I love the way they begin Side One’s closer ‘Painted Red’
and in all honesty I would say the whole track would sound much more engaging
had they chose to continue on in this slow, downbeat vein, itself quite
redolent of some tasty progressive acid-folk vintage.
Scottish than you’d like (Red Sands hail from around the Glasgow area) but the
overall feel of the selected material brings to mind some of the innovative
works that groups like, say The La’s were consciously building on back in their
day; although it’s only a subtle reminder it’s worth noting that certainly some
of the vocal patterns and rhythmic pulsings here and there tend to push and
pull in similar ways. I love the way they begin Side One’s closer ‘Painted Red’
and in all honesty I would say the whole track would sound much more engaging
had they chose to continue on in this slow, downbeat vein, itself quite
redolent of some tasty progressive acid-folk vintage.
Alas, although the second side doesn’t float my boat as much
as the first does, the songs do feature some very fine drumming, and at least
one or two nicely psych-toned guitar sounds can be heard filtering through. On
the likes of the all too brief ‘Widow’s Walk’, Red Sands hook you right back in
again with a wonderfully understated, hazy, eastern-style groove. I’m not
entirely sure whether the group is still in operation or if they’ve now decided
called it a day but, whatever the situation, they can be sure that what they’ve
left behind is something that’s altogether worthwhile, full of intrigue, and
that with each fresh new listen grows ever stronger.
as the first does, the songs do feature some very fine drumming, and at least
one or two nicely psych-toned guitar sounds can be heard filtering through. On
the likes of the all too brief ‘Widow’s Walk’, Red Sands hook you right back in
again with a wonderfully understated, hazy, eastern-style groove. I’m not
entirely sure whether the group is still in operation or if they’ve now decided
called it a day but, whatever the situation, they can be sure that what they’ve
left behind is something that’s altogether worthwhile, full of intrigue, and
that with each fresh new listen grows ever stronger.
Review made by Lenny Helsing/2015
© Copyright http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2015
