Urbantramper- Rise and Ride Toward
Fri 13 Nov 2009
Urbantramper- Rise and Ride Toward
8/10
Following up 2007’s Tokon & The Colours was always going to be difficult, but Urbantramper has made a record that not only complements it, they’ve made a record that explores new subjects and translates modernistic musical ideas. After releasing their stunning second album Lake and Eli, two of New Zealand’s most underrated song writers, moved to the UK and travelled through Europe, India and Australia. During the journey they wrote the songs for Rise and Ride Toward, their third full-length album. The album has a very tender quality, it’s soft and gentle and contains a mixture of fetching lullabies and delicately audacious pop songs. They’ve gone twee and become cross eyed with love, writing songs that hold out for hugs rather than petitioning the government to revoke the new tree felling law. Rise and Ride Toward has many beautiful moments, contrasting well with Tokon & The Colours which had a passion for the environment rather than delving into human relationships. Urbantramper has transformed, becoming universal with their themes and finding middle ground between the carol-esque music of modern Americana heroes Fleet Foxes and hipster romantics like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. Like their previous album, Lake takes up the main vocal duty, accompanied strongly by Eli singing beautifully looped back-up harmonies. Her voice is whimsical and fresh, with a perfect pitch and extension. Often singing in harmony with Lake, she has mastered the technique of holding on to vocal notes, making her voice extend beyond Lake’s and emphasising her remarkably beautiful voice. ‘My Grand Plan’, ‘It Is Close, But Not Here…’ and ‘The Ballad Of Lord Warburton’ are the best examples, the first sounding a lot like The Dirty Projectors in the criss-crossed melodies. There’s hints of The Ruby Suns’ Sea Lion throughout and The Brunettes influence is subtle but obviously referenced in ‘Perfection Thoughts’. If it wasn’t for a slightly stumbled beginning, (’I Live In A Shoe House’ is a little heavy on the drums and ‘A Warm Glowing Light’ lacks Eli’s soft touch) Rise and Ride Toward would be a flawless pop album. ‘My Grand Plan’ is quite easily the band’s best song to date, outdoing ‘Sun Sets On The Empty Carnival’ (T&TC) which was responsible for attracting many fans via student radio.
Nick
