Redtrack - Whole Town's Heart

  by Tony Gaughan

published: 11 / 10 / 2010

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Review

Southend-on-Sea based quartet Redtrack don't try to rewrite the book on this debut. They wear their influences on their sleeve. The Clash, the Buzzcocks and indie Britpop bands like Blur are obvious references. Pete Shelley was impressed enough to work with the band on recent single 'Poledancer' with producer Dave Allen (The Cure, Depeche Mode and the Associates).This even even merited a cry of "We love them" from Mr Shelley, not bad from a writer of countless three minute classics. This persuaded Fierce Panda man Simon Williams to make this album the very first from his new Label Fandango, an offshoot of Fierce Panda, which had first shout at Coldplay, Placebo, the Bluetones, Ash, Keane and Supergrass among others. Redtrack produce a very promising debut, even leaning on an alternative dark indie 80's synth sound on the current impressive single 'The Trier' which has shades of Mansun. Front man Billy Wright can certainly pen a tune. The acoustically led 'Memory Card' is a beautiful ballad and stick out future single, 'Perfectly Fine Intellectual', is equally memorable. This debut also features the vocals of Hollyoaks actress Hollie Jay Bowes on 'Pretty Boy' and quite impressive they are too. Wright like many writers before him seems to yearn escaping the humdrum of a seaside town and teenage heartbreak, but he somehow strikes a balance and keeps it fresh. A young band with a very bright future ahead should they continue to produce these goods. Luverly grub as they say in Essex!

Track Listing:-

1 Whole Town's Heart
2 Cigarette
3 Been There
4 The Trier
5 Memory Card
6 I Miss You, Not
7 Pole Dancer
8 Catch Me Out
9 Perfectly Fine Intellectual
10 Pretty Boy