Rydell - Hard On The Trail

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 4 / 3 / 2004

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Review

Nearly three years ago, an album arrived on my doormat that simply changed the foundations of my musical tastes and left me utterly committed to underground music. Since then, Emo has gone mainstream and been subsequently ridiculed, despite the passion and brilliance of the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Rival Schools and Hundred Reasons. The world Rydell’s album opened up for me, however, went a long way beyond mainstream emo, to a scene that may only have small audiences comparatively but whose audiences are passionately devoted to this music, and whose bands really are completely unique and breathtakingly good. Without Rydell’s album I would never have seeked out the bands that influenced them, like Chamberlain – who I interviewed last year and whose 'The Moon My Saddle' is an all time favourite, or Elliott, or the Appleseed Cast, or the completely ignored but brilliant Crosstide or the legion of Deep Elm Records bands, in particular Brandtson. I say this in all my reviews, but if you like indie rock, then you will like these bands. If I had to choose between these and the far more celebrated records I own, these win every time. Despite all the praise lavished on so many art-rock bands, these bands – who get a criminally small coverage – outstrip them in all areas. Not just in passion and songwriting, but in experimentation and adventurousness and recklessness as well. But when it comes down to it, Rydell’s 'Par Ardua Ad Astra' was the first, and I’ll always love it. No wonder it was my album of the year in 2001. If I could vote for it every year, I probably would. Age has not decreased its power. Last year, Rydell put out a compilation of early and rare tracks, including some acoustic interpretations, but finally a full follow up has emerged. Tragically, it is the last act in the Rydell story as the band has been forced to break up. Like so many great bands before them, the lack of commercial recognition had meant that other commitments have had to take precedence over the music. Like Chamberlain and Elliott they have broken up despite being on a creative roll. 'Hard On The Trail' is a more diverse collection than 'Par Ardua Ad Astra', which was very immediate. This takes more time, but the melodies are always there and the arrangements always unique. The band is, however, ever so slightly more adventurous on this album. 'Par Ardua Ad Astra' was very much an emo album, but there are certainly nods here to the band’s hardcore roots – especially on their likeable cover of ‘The Boys Of Summer’. The band doesn’t hide their influences, but they don’t allow these bands to dictate their direction either. The gruff hardcore of Hot Water Music is seemingly incompatible with the pop rock of the Get Up Kids or the introspection of Chamberlain or indeed the mysteriousness of early REM, but all are part of the Rydell package. There are even hints of a hidden admiration for the Strokes in the jangly but propulsive guitar lines. If you are already a Rydell fan – and anyone with sense is, rest assured that just because this is the final offering it is not below par. 'Team Building Exercise' is by far and away the best thing they’ve done, 'Know Now' is Rydell at their most intense and 'Cut To End' their most catchy. Frontman Milo’s vocals veer from sweet and melodic to full out intensity, whilst the interaction between the instrumentalists allows them to do pretty much the same. The production is top notch. I can’t decide if it’s a better album as a whole than 'Par Ardua Ad Astra', so if you’re new to Rydell then just get both! Then check out their label’s website and order some Chamberlain and Elliott records. It’ll make sense to you! The only question that remains is, album of the year? Almost certainly! Rydell may not be famous, but they will be missed.

Track Listing:-

1 Know Now
2 Darkness Before Home
3 Born Witness
4 Awkward Times
5 Cut to End
6 Shifter (Girls With Skulls)
7 Analysis of the Evidence
8 Fire At the End of the Street
9 Ground Never Held Me
10 Team Building Exercise
11 Boys of Summer