Music > Album Reviews

The Wedding Present - Going, Going...

11/08/16

The Wedding Present’s ninth studio album tells the story of a road trip across the USA in twenty songs. Released in several formats, all including a DVD, each song is accompanied by a short film. I’ve not seen these and the space available here doesn’t allow a detailed critique of each song so I'll stick to the highlights.

Kittery places shimmering piano over a riff Sunn 0))) would be proud of. Marblehead is stunningly beautiful, built around gently strummed instruments with Katharine Wallinger most prominent in the wordless cooing vocals, giving it a hint of 60s Francophone girl-pop. Sprague continues in a similar vein with strings and piano replacing the vocals. Eels-like Little Silver goes from a slight, gentle start into big, bass-heavy riffs and back again. Birdsnest has a Pistols punk vibe and cool boy-girl vox. Fifty-Six starts with heavy, almost metal riffage before turning into spindly, post-punk with an uplifting pop chorus and an extended instrumental section.

Back in the eighties, The Wedding Present burst forth with short buzzsaw fast songs of love, lust and heartbreak. Three decades on and with singing guitarist David Gedge being the only constant, this isn’t a classic but the Weddos still having the power to surprise and delight. Good stuff.

7/10