Catenary Wires - Red Red Skies
by Anthony Strutt
published: 8 / 9 / 2015

Label:
Elefant Records
Format: CD
intro
Acoustic and heartfelt debut album from Catenary Waves, the new band of Talulah Gosh, Heavenly and Tender Trap's Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey
The Catenary Wires is the new project from Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, who, after recording four albums with them, have put their last band Tender Trap on hold for the time being. The couple moved from Brixton to the Kent countryside for a quieter life, and discovered that there were no record shops anywhere nearby or musical shops where they could buy things like spare guitar strings. 'Red Red Skies', which is the Catenary Wires' debut album, lasts just under 30 minutes and, a stripped down affair, is in part a reflection of that. The bands consist of just the couple, whom have delivered an acoustic and heartfelt album of broken love songs, the loudness of Tender Trap and their other previous bands Talulah Gosh and Heavenly missing from this recording. 'Intravenous' is a honey-soft, harmony-based duet upon which the guitar softly dances alongside Amelia and Rob's vocals. 'When You Walk Away' is a sad, doomed, fragile love song, which sung by Amelia sounds like an acoustic Drugstore. 'A Different Scene' is a gentle rocker, which recalls an indie version of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra. On 'The Records We Never Play', the pair sound like an acoustic R.E.M., Rob's vocal is raw with emotion and tenderness, while Amelia's backing is as gentle as Hope Sandoval and dry, mystical and magical. 'Throw Another Love Song on the Fire' is bittersweet in tone. Rob's vocal is as crisp as Lee Hazlewood, while Amelia's backing is very sad and downbeat. 'Too Late, I Love You' recalls Drugstore without a drink or a fag. 'Like a Fool' sounds like a Morrissey B-side and full of miserable joy. 'Things I Love' ends this short work, and is a list of all they are missing since thy moved tot he countryside, sung by Amelia in Beth Orton style. An understated but fabulous record.
Track Listing:-
1 Intravenous2 When You Walk Away
3 A Different Scene
4 The Records We Never Play
5 Throw Another Love Song On the
6 Too Late, I Love You
7 Like a Fool
8 Things I Love
Band Links:-
https://twitter.com/catenarywireshttp://www.thecatenarywires.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheCatenaryWires
https://instagram.com/thecatenarywires
Label Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/elefantukhttp://www.elefantuk.com/
https://twitter.com/elefantuk
http://elefant.com/
interviews |
Interview (2021) |
![]() |
Talulah Gosh, Heavenly and Tender Trap's Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey speak to John Clarkson about the expansion of their current band The Catenary Wires from a duo into a five-piece and 'Birling Gap', their just-released third album. |
live reviews |
Gullivers, Manchester, 19/7/2019 |
![]() |
Dixie Ernill finds indie veterans the Catenary Wires still cutting it live at Gullivers in Manchester. |
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