Facebook Slider

Album Review: Le Reno Amps - Tear It Open

  • Written by  Kenny McMurtrie

Fantastic countrified punk rock, and much more, on this third album from the Glasgow quartet.

Starting off with a driving riff fit to grace a Reverend Horton Heat track, Le Reno Amps begin proceedings with 'Outlaws', nicely tying in with the cover picture of some highway robbery set to end badly. After this they would have to change the style drastically to snatch defeat from victory. Track two, 'If You Want A Lover', leans more towards the Calexico take on country but at no time does it plod along. 'You Do Your Thing' couldn't have been written by a band other than one from Glasgow - clear echoes of Teenage Fanclub trying their hand at the same thing or maybe even Garlic. Either way, a rollicking cheery number that puts the recalcitrant half of a dying relationship firmly in his or her place.

'Going Under' plants itself firmly in rock territory with big drum rolls when required and impassioned lead vocals. The strong backing-vocals that underpin a good many of the songs are also given ample space to fill out the overall sound. 'The Stand Off' maintains the rock ethic whilst also managing to introduce some synth burbles and end in a most metal grind out. Things get totally stripped back on song six though - 'Body' is all acoustic guitar, spare drums and harmonica in a very pleasant arrangement. 'Threads' picks up the tempo again and I'd be interested to know when the band last saw a tumbleweed rolling down Buchanan Street. 'Slow Decay' and 'Dangerous Boy' keep things stomping along, the latter being probably the edgiest cut of the 11 - definitely displaying elements of Joe Strummer or maybe even Manu Chao.

Finishing things off we get 'Send Me On My Way', a real thumbs-in-your-dungaree-straps knees-up of a tune, and lastly 'The Gilded Road' which verges on Secret Machines-like sonics at times. A genuinely great and varied release from a band that others could do well to learn from. Check out their home-made films for each track on YouTube too.

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Related items

Login to post comments
back to top