Easter Street politely inform me that I do not have to sport an “asymmetrical haircut” or a “pair of skinnies” to enjoy their music, unfortunately and unbeknownst to those lads I have both, oh, what a catastrophe, I better switch off now then.
If I had, then I would have missed out on a decent little record from the Borders trio.
Just as well I never took my ball and went home then, eh fellows?
While there are massive undercurrents of rock n’ roll featured on Fire Together / Wire Together, it is the unusual and more ambient ingredients that make this record a fun enough listen.
For example, the provocative and folksy feel to ‘I Won’t Sing Another Song’ adds another dimension to the almost consistently brash sound of the band.
‘Lifeboat’ swans in and out of ballad territory, with a sweep of brushing drums colliding into a sterilized clean guitar.
With a chorus, which weirdly sounds reminiscent of something the Goo Goo Dolls would write, is thankfully saved by the punk grotesque strangling of vocalist Murray Warnock.
There are moments on Fire Together / Wire Together, though, that are not saved.
Interestingly it is the foot to the pedal to the floor tracks such as ‘Gimme A Thrill’ and opener ‘(Please Talk) Behind My Back’ which comes across as the weak links on the record.
The problem with these tracks are not merely that they lack the intensity and fire that the band are aiming to drench themselves in, but, more that they lack a certain charisma and swagger that would accelerate them to the next level.
‘1989’ is a perfect example of what Easter Street is capable of, coated in a delicate backdrop of atmospheric sounds and stirring symmetrical harmonics.
There is a mature and evolved sound dying to be found within Fire together /TWire Together, that much is frustratingly obvious.
For the most part, this is a lovely little listen.
There are dynamics within the music, however, which need to be worked out.
For instance, what is the sound that Easter Street should be showcasing?
Do they really want to highlight an outdated, uninspired and monotonous sound found in songs such as ‘Old Canal’?
What they should really be concentrating on is the fantastic melodies and structures on the likes of ‘When We Walk Out the Door’, which compliment Murray’s vocal style best.
Yes, Fire Together / Wire Together is a rock n’ roll record, but it had the potential to be so much more than that.
Words: Chris Kelman
