Travelling Band - Screaming is Something
by Carl Bookstein
published: 4 / 6 / 2011

Label:
Sideways Saloon
Format: CD
intro
Fabulous blend of country, pop, folk and understated psychedelia on second album from Manchester-based group, the Travelling Band
'Screaming is Something' is the second album of Manchester’s the Travelling Band. The music is a blend of country, pop, folk and understated psychedelia with soothing vocals and jangling instrumentation. The recording was done in a converted church on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The Travelling Band members include Adam Gorman, Jo Dudderidge, Steve Mullen, Chris Spencer and Nick Vaal. The opening track 'Fairweather Friends' is a shimmering lovely start. The album includes a fine assembly of acoustic and electric instrumentation from guitars to banjo and accordion. Rich harmony vocals help to achieve a highly appealing sound. 'Sundial', previously released as a single, is the album’s standout hit- positively gorgeous and hypnotic. Layers and layers of cascading sound draw the listener right in, as the repeated lyric takes on the quality of a mantra: “If I had a home to call my own/Then I wouldn’t need a sundial to stop me roaming around.” 'Magnetic Anywhere' is a desirable slice of folk pop and 'Under the Pavement' sparkles in the country rock tradition of the Byrds. 'The Horizon, Me and You' is a hopeful chiming piece of pop-craft: “If you row too far/You can follow your tracks and find me back at the start.” 'One Dime Blues' features some fine acoustic finger picking. The lyric is traditional blues: “I’m broke and I ain’t got a dime/Everybody gets some hard luck sometimes.” The song builds in momentum to a musical crescendo. 'On the Rails' is an evocative closer: “If I don’t see you on that train/See you on the other side.” In the end, the Travelling Band’s 'Screaming is Something' is a down to earth blend of folk and pop stylings and a great listen.
Track Listing:-
1 Fairweather Friends2 Screaming Is Something
3 Sundial
4 Battlescars
5 Magnetic Anywhere
6 Under The Pavement
7 Hindsight
8 The Horizon, Me And You
9 One Dime Blues
10 On The Rails
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/thetravellingbandhttps://twitter.com/travellingband
http://www.thetravellingband.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/thetravellingband/
soundcloud
reviews |
Sails (2017) |
![]() |
Polished and confident second album from Manchester-based Americana outfit the Travelling Band |
The Big Defreeze (2014) |
Sundial (2010) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Little Simz - Lotus
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
HAIM - I Quit
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart