Redcoats - Redcoats (03/12/2012)
Redcoats debut album is one of those things that you either hate or love, lucky for me it was the latter. Although growing up in a house full of rock and roll my reaction isn’t exactly surprising.
Redcoats may seem like a band from America but they’re actually 100 per cent home grown right here in Melbourne. With their unique style, the band managed to grab supporting acts playing alongside Grinspoon, Papa vs Pretty, Calling All Cars and Karnivool, just to name a few. Their debut single, Dreamshaker, even managed to score 76th position on Triple J’s Hottest 100.
Surprisingly enough their noisy debut album was actually created in isolation amongst the Australian bush. LA producer Dave Schiffman, who has also worked with Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Dandy Warhols, captured the band’s final result so expectations for the album were set high.
With a title like Raven as their opening track, it’s clear that Redcoats aren’t messing around with their rock and roll title and a consistent style can be expected throughout the ten songs. Opening with Emilio Mercuri’s raspy voice it could be said it’s of the perfect timbre to be likened to rock stars of the 70s, something that is rare in today’s industry. Raven eases audiences into Redcoats style of rock and creates a great platform for the rest of the album.
Mr Young draws you in with the delicate guitar strumming of Neil Wilkinson, that is, until the song goes black and Mercuri’s voice thunders in. The song is more subdued than the others, which is a nice break from Mercuri’s constant belting. Instead of his voice being the focus listeners can pay attention to the diversity of sounds.
Mesmerised by the heavy drumbeat, One Hundred Seasons, pulls you in and holds you in a subdued state until the guitar solo rips through you. The song starts off slow and works up to a nice climax and as a result toe tapping and head banging are a given with this song.
Filled with psychedelic tunes and hypnotic rhythms Serpent Charmer lives up to its title. The lyrics unarguably complement the style of the song to and tee, and the line “Soothe us with your sweet, smooth, gentle hymns” describes the song perfectly. Aside from mesmerising listeners Australia-wide this song proves that Redcoats aren’t just a one trick pony, and creates a noticeable changing point in the album.
The album finishes off with a brilliant exhibition of Redcoats talent in the form of their song Mean Money. This song can’t be described as anything else but the perfect blend of vocals, bass, guitar riffs, drums and thoughtful lyrics. At a whopping nine minutes long Neil Wilkinson owns Mean Money with his electric guitars presence being known throughout the song. Mean Money is a standout of the album and it’s only fitting that the song takes you out with their melodic guitar.
Aside from the minor downfalls that are in the album, Redcoats have managed to deliver a tidy 10-song rock album and proven that rock and roll is by no means dead. As long as Redcoats are around they’ll be giving indie-pop bands Australia wide a run for their money and a place on Triple J’s Hottest 100. After listening to the album you can’t help but want to press replay, don a Led Zeppelin shirt, throw on a ratty denim jacket and head bang to this one-of-a-kind rock album.
Amanda Sherring
Redcoats may seem like a band from America but they’re actually 100 per cent home grown right here in Melbourne. With their unique style, the band managed to grab supporting acts playing alongside Grinspoon, Papa vs Pretty, Calling All Cars and Karnivool, just to name a few. Their debut single, Dreamshaker, even managed to score 76th position on Triple J’s Hottest 100.
Surprisingly enough their noisy debut album was actually created in isolation amongst the Australian bush. LA producer Dave Schiffman, who has also worked with Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Dandy Warhols, captured the band’s final result so expectations for the album were set high.
With a title like Raven as their opening track, it’s clear that Redcoats aren’t messing around with their rock and roll title and a consistent style can be expected throughout the ten songs. Opening with Emilio Mercuri’s raspy voice it could be said it’s of the perfect timbre to be likened to rock stars of the 70s, something that is rare in today’s industry. Raven eases audiences into Redcoats style of rock and creates a great platform for the rest of the album.
Mr Young draws you in with the delicate guitar strumming of Neil Wilkinson, that is, until the song goes black and Mercuri’s voice thunders in. The song is more subdued than the others, which is a nice break from Mercuri’s constant belting. Instead of his voice being the focus listeners can pay attention to the diversity of sounds.
Mesmerised by the heavy drumbeat, One Hundred Seasons, pulls you in and holds you in a subdued state until the guitar solo rips through you. The song starts off slow and works up to a nice climax and as a result toe tapping and head banging are a given with this song.
Filled with psychedelic tunes and hypnotic rhythms Serpent Charmer lives up to its title. The lyrics unarguably complement the style of the song to and tee, and the line “Soothe us with your sweet, smooth, gentle hymns” describes the song perfectly. Aside from mesmerising listeners Australia-wide this song proves that Redcoats aren’t just a one trick pony, and creates a noticeable changing point in the album.
The album finishes off with a brilliant exhibition of Redcoats talent in the form of their song Mean Money. This song can’t be described as anything else but the perfect blend of vocals, bass, guitar riffs, drums and thoughtful lyrics. At a whopping nine minutes long Neil Wilkinson owns Mean Money with his electric guitars presence being known throughout the song. Mean Money is a standout of the album and it’s only fitting that the song takes you out with their melodic guitar.
Aside from the minor downfalls that are in the album, Redcoats have managed to deliver a tidy 10-song rock album and proven that rock and roll is by no means dead. As long as Redcoats are around they’ll be giving indie-pop bands Australia wide a run for their money and a place on Triple J’s Hottest 100. After listening to the album you can’t help but want to press replay, don a Led Zeppelin shirt, throw on a ratty denim jacket and head bang to this one-of-a-kind rock album.
Amanda Sherring