NEWS
EVENTS
Race Horses Album Launch
Indie | Friday 5th October 2012 | Osh
Race Horses are an act that is difficult to distill into buzzwords and clichés, and rightly so.
Past releases have blended saccharine sweet pop with other more esoteric influences, and their new release is no exception. But then you’d already know that if you had the good fortune to catch last week’s album launch of ‘Furniture’ at The Lexington.
It’s clear who the crowd is here to see and as Race Horses take to the stage, the relatively small venue erupts. It’s not hard to see why. Anyone who has followed this bands slow but steady rise from humble beginnings to getting Rough Trade’s coveted album of the week spot will be familiar with the passion this band can expect from their audience.
With absolutely no messing around they begin with the album title track ‘Furniture’ a rather reserved song with off-kilter procession and synth providing a backing for lead singer Meilyr Jones’s plaintive vocals.
The next song is ‘Mates’ and has the band displaying the earnest quirkiness which has made them so popular. This is alternative pop at its very best, with extra lashings of synthesiser and autoharp zinging a smile across everyone’s faces.
Stand out track of the evening is the single ‘My Year Abroad’. This song temporarily ditches the albums chirpiness in favour of a darker and more dynamic sound. With all its drive and verve it would be easy for the band to get carried away, but they remain effortlessly tight holding the material together as one cohesive showcase.
It’s this balancing act that makes Race Horses so compelling. Heartfelt and campy without becoming twee. Delivering powerful songs but without losing their pop hooks. They deftly cross a tightrope of musical influences all the while delivering one of the most entertaining and charming sounds you could hope to hear.
Next month they head off onto a European tour with Bat for Lashes, so grab them while you can at Dingwalls on October 30th. Tickets and details here.
By Jacob Alexander Guberg.
