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"Chest beating, U2-wrestling-My Bloody-Valentine stormer" The Fly
So there’s this truly kid-loco band called The Race standing in the aisle of some monumental toyshop, overwhelmed by the choice but determined to climb right up to get the top shelf, no matter how grazed the knees end up. The sound they make along the way is pure fast-twitch fibre stuff, all double-edged guitars mounting Big Choruses™, stuff with wings, balls and any other bit of anatomy that you care to mention.
The live show does it every time. With a twitching Dan Buchanan giving it the John Lydons, living the lines as he bawls and twists. A natural frontman, his abandon to the cause is magnetic. ‘Step away from the fear’ he shouts. It is the slap on the face that breaks the nightmare.
Gloria Estefan got it right: the rhythm is going to get you. OK, so The Race do it without all the hips and hairflicks, but you get the point: there’s something extra, something more than the rock scene’s plodding and pounding that this Reading five-piece are able to deliver.
You want links? Everyone says The Pixies, but for some that’s just a case of being able to say SNAP as they see another band with female BVs and premium guitars. Others give it the old ‘Muse… Marychain…’ stuff, but here there’s more passion, less prancing and the pure hit of potential about to be unleashed. That’s a lot of ‘P’s for one band, but, believe me, they’re worth every one of them.
You want tracks? Try Go Figure. Bigger than you’d expect from halfway between Swindon and Slough, but there you go. Big toms, big riffs, big ideas. Like I said, this is the wake-up call that breaks the panic, the shoulder-shake that comes out of the darkness. Another one? Try Raising Children. Again, there’s a confidence about the melody and rhythm that lights the fuse. When this puppy goes off, Raising Children will have them surging down the front, sacking the vocals in all the right places. Check out what pure joy sounds like.
You want more? Here you go…
"The Race explode off the blocks like a rocket on this single but manage an even stronger finish with the remote 'Raising Children'. An unapologetic, impassioned and impressive call to arms...transports you away from the drabness of four walls... positively sparkles." Matthew Butler, Drowned in Sound
"Bloody lovely." Gideon Coe, 6music
"Fabulous, I'm sure you'll agree." Shaun Keveney, Xfm
Hear them play live on BBC 6music (online and digital) on Wednesday 27th April between 10am and 1pm.
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27th April The Metro Club, London
29th Club Velocity @ RSAC, Reading
8th May Rock'n'Roll Cinema @ 93 Feet East, London
11th Fez Club, Reading. (supporting Morning Runner)
14th Come Together Festival, Henley
21st Water Rats Theatre, London.
24th Po Na Na, Reading
26th Fox and Firkin, Lewisham
3rd June Feedback @ the Farmers Arms, Lancaster
8th Rendition @ Parker Place, London
9th Cellar, Oxford
19th Charlbury Festival
www.theraceuk.com.
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