Indie rock/punk band Fire In The Radio who hail from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania re-release their debut album `Red Static Action`, a remix/remaster by Jesse Gander (Japandroids, White Lung, Dave Hause) which features two previously unreleased tracks `Hide the Knives` and `Prairie`. The band Richard Carbone (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Miller (vocals, guitar), Adam Caldwell (drums), and Ed Olsen (bass) take their name from a line from a poem by German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer Charles Burkowski.
`A Separate Piece` leads us in and it`s a thoughtful fairly reflective quietly shared number and an ideally understated introduction. There`s a pulsing cadence played on the rim of a drum to `Hold My Pocket` which becomes quite dreamy as it evolves.
`Answering Machine` has a melodic yearning with a call and response type chorus whereas `Tryst Affair` is faster paced with intricate guitar chords. A track that`s made for playing while driving.
`Probably German` is quietly reflective with a steady percussive tempo and click beat akin to a metronome before it bursts to life in the latter stages. The title of `The Bean and the Cod` possibly refers to a famous Boston toast highlighting the city’s elite and has an enjoyable melodious captivating rush about it.
`The Flight in Miles` has a tranquillity about it, a soothing and calming listen which eludes that “life’s a breeze and worth living” sentiment. The wonderfully titled `Distress Call No. 416` is not a standard, universal distress signal itself. The number 416, however, appears in specific contexts related to distress or emergencies and here it has a slight fractured edginess to it.
`Lessons` to me projected a sense of frustration or irritation while the final cut `Talk for the Tired` had a not fatigued but slightly weary sense to it.
Bonus tracks come with `Hide the Knives` and `Prairie` recorded with Don Zientara (Fugazi). `Hide the Knives` had initially a remote nigh on isolated vocal delivery and some really appealing guitar chord progressions throughout. `Prairie` is chocked full of jangly guitar riffs which felt quite breathless at times and had a delightful shimmer.
I read somewhere that the band have recorded some new tracks with a view to a future album which is news to be welcomed while this re-release allows a little time to reflect on former glories.
Rating 8/10
