The Rakes – Capture/Release
The Rakes document every day life with such vivid and blunt imagery. “Capture/Release” is an absolutely flawless record. This London bunch are so spot on with their vision of day to day occurrences it’s quite reassuring that someone else feels the same.
Recent single “Retreat” is so wonderful, it puts together the dreadful day to day happenings, that we all incur. “Walk home, come down , retreat to sleep, wake up, go out again, repeat” I think that really says it all now doesn’t it? “22 Grand Job,” has become a classic tale of working some awful job. “The Guilt” is a hilarious tale of a mans drink and drug fuelled nights where he keeps making certain mistakes and waking up to someone quite undesirable. “Open Book” is a catchy little number with the great line “Pick up a book, put down a book / Turn on the TV / It’s 2 AM, there’s nothing on / I just need something to focus on” guitar stabs and finger clicks what else could we ask for? ” Strasbourg ” is a song about post war Germany in the 1980s and it’s a true classic. “Terror” is a spine tingling story of life in the current climate of fear and terrorism. “Binary Love” features one of my favorite lines of “Can’t you just pretend, That we are more than friends?
Also, Paul Epworth’s production here is top notch and the record really has a great sound and feel to it. This is an amazing album of near perfect status. But why no Ausland Mission?? Easily, one of the bands finest moments. Go out, buy, worship, repeat!
By John Siwicki
