CRACK CLOUD
Red Mile
(Jagjaguwar)
There’s something about a co-operative when it comes to music, it hints at inclusiveness and accessibility, and an idea strong enough to sustain involvement by multifarious people. It’s welcome. An adherence to a probably barmy philosophy that is no barmier than any other church you’d care to attend. Some kind of cynical positivity, the kind you used to find in erstwhile anarchist squats in the 1970s and 1980s.
It’s attractive because it lacks self-righteousness, even if sometimes, you get the idea there’s an in-joke that you’re never going to get.
Musically, Crack Cloud are clever enough musicians and writers to use The Clash, Mott The Hoople, Sparks, Animal Collective and, at the top of Crack of Life, the first track, Curtis Mayfield among many other influences artfully, with the vocal performances giving them a personality that defies the sometimes over-practised musicianship.
I like that I can’t totally get them. It’s unusual for me not have them pinned down after a listen or a look. I wonder how accidental the influences are? The British early 1980’s chorussed bass guitar on 'Blue Kite', a track that proves what The Kinks created with three chords will live on in riffs for decades yet. The Pixies on Ballad of Billy, the Gang of 4 chanting lead vocals…
There are moments when the influences are transcended and that’s when this album is special. Other times I wish the production and arrangements could match the premise. That may be the fault of knocking a collective into a productive unit. Maybe, next time, a bit less sergeant major and a bit more whatever…
See Crack Cloud on Tour
Sat. Aug. 24 - Málaga, ES @ Canela Party
Wed. Sep. 4 - Zürich, CH @ Bogen F
Thu. Sep. 5 - Brussels, BEL - Museum @ Botanique
Fri. Sep. 6 - Asten-Heusden, NL @ Misty Fields
Sat. Sep. 7 - Paris, FR @ Maroquinerie
Mon. Sep. 9 - Berlin, GER @ Lido
Tue. Sep. 10 - Copenhagen, DK @ Hotel Cecil
Wed. Sep. 11 - Malmö, SWE @ Plan B
Thu. Sep. 12 - Stockholm, SWE @ Hus 7
Fri. Sep. 13 - Oslo, NOR - By:Larm Festival @ Blå
Sat. Sep. 14 - Oslo, NOR - By:Larm Festival @ TBC
Mon. Sep. 16 - Cologne, GER @ Bumann & Sohn
Tue. Sep. 16 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord
Wed. Sep. 18 - Rouen, FR @ Le 106
Thu. Sep. 19 - La Rochelle, FR @ Sirene
Fri. Sep. 20 - Nantes, FR @ Lieu Unique
Wed. Sep. 25 - London, UK @ Koko
Thu. Sep. 26 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Fri. Sep. 27 - Glasgow, UK @ Stereo
Sat. Sep. 28 - Sheffield, UK @ Float Along Festival
Sun. Sep. 29 - Dublin, IRE @ Whelans
Mon. Sep. 30 - Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
Tue. Oct. 1 - Bristol, UK @ Lost Horizon
Wed. Oct. 2 - Brighton, UK @ CHALK
Thu. Oct. 10 - Mexico City, MC @ Foro Indierocks!
Wed. Oct. 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Orpheum Theatre * SOLD OUT
Fri. Oct. 18 - New York, NY @ The Apollo Theater * SOLD OUT
Mon. Oct. 21 - Queens, NY @ Knockdown Center *
* supporting The Voidz
Essential Information
Main image by Megan-Magdalene Bourne
