The Rakes ‘Capture / Release’ (V2)

When The Rakes sing “22 grand job in the city / it’s alright” (’22 Grand Job’), they set themselves up as middle-class heroes – like John Lennon, the reality as opposed to the myth. The Rakes’ songs are about going out, getting pissed, going to work hung-over and getting away with an easy, meaningless life.

It wasn’t always like this. Opening track ‘Strasbourg’ is a belter of a track that recalls harsher times, alluding to communist-era Germany (despite The Rakes hailing from London), daring escapes in cattle trucks and a time when rock’n’roll was meaningful. Even if it meant David Hasselhoff singing about freedom as the wall came down. But that’s all in the past now and we’re left in the real world of mind-numbing jobs and routine nights out. On single ‘Retreat’ it’s “walk home / come down / retreat to sleep / wake up / go out again / repeat”. ‘We Are All Animals’ bemoans the loss of meaning that comes with a biological explanation of life. There’s a sense that vitality and a purpose to life can only come by getting out of the comfort zone and prevailing over danger – like the opposing actions of the album title.

It’s this interesting undercurrent to what are familiar indie musings on the struggle to find meaning amongst the banalities of daily life, that help The Rakes stand out from their contemporaries. Musically they do well too. ‘Strasbourg’ is an absolute gem, with its driving rhythms and overriding sense of intent, bound by definite new wave influences that suits the song’s theme. It’s the best song on the record and consequently the rest of the album initially feels like a let down.

However this feeling doesn’t last long as ‘Capture / Release’ is a grower and The Rakes strike a nice balance between the decrepit punk of The Libertines and the acute wit of today’s post-punkers. The Jam and The Clash are familiar inspirations and at times they can seem like every indie band doing the rounds of grotty London venues. Yet ‘Open Book’ skanks to some nice ska rhythms, ‘T Bone’ is a rollicking blues number, while closing song ‘Work Work Work’ is like New Order after a few pints of Stella. While they may not be as instantly catchy as a band like Dogs, there is depth to their sound that survives repeated listening.

words: Colm Larkin