The Liverpool boys Red Rum Club are back with an emphatic sophomore record ‘The Hollow Of Humdrum’.
The six-piece has been a hot icon this year as critical support has increased from national and international radio stations to major festival announcements. Despite not being able to do the latter, this album is the summer soundtrack that will keep the sun alive this autumn.
Opening up with their most recent single ‘The Elevation’, it grabs the essence of modern love and condensing it to a three-and-a-half-minute tornado of joyful pop, the fleet-footed festival favourites unleash an irresistible, earworm of a single – yet again!
The brass-forward band found trumpet player, Joe Corby, was the catalyst for ‘The Elevation’ as the irresistible has been a staple in many tracks previous. Red Rum Club have built a solid foundation where songwriter and guitarist, Tom Williams builds around it. The single has turned into one that evokes the thrill of a weekend on the tiles, simultaneously telling of the stomach-knotting tension of modern infatuation.
Frontman Fran Doran, says of the track: “It’s about getting a message read, but the person you sent it to ignores it because they are out, so the track is upbeat and funky to sound like a Saturday night on the dancefloor.
“The lyrics ‘the ticks turn blue’ is about Whatsapp, seeing that the other person has seen your message, then the agonising wait to see if they reply. It’s the modern equivalent of sending a love letter and the pain or euphoria that comes with it.”
Moving swiftly onto arguably their most anthemic indie rock track, ‘Kids Addicted’ the blasts of trumpets and the smashing rhythmics of drums and guitars is a must-hear epilogue to the cinematic showdown that was Red Rum Clubs’ debut album, ‘Matador’.
‘Vivo’ breaks up the singles with a punchy, in-your-face blast of indie rock and electronic touches all under three minutes. It’s something different and quite refreshing to hear; instantly catching your attention.
In an ode to the person that’s always up dancing first, ‘Ballerino’ is the fruit of the band’s album, with lead singer, Fran Doran, painting himself into the song with his rallying-call lyrics.
Unashamed cheerleaders for finding and holding on to the good times, Red Rum Club layer meaning into their feelgood songcraft to tackle toxic masculinity and the fear of really letting go. Its beautiful summer gloss of brass instruments and tropical-like guitars and meaningful vocals to support someone in need of a ‘pick me up’.
The band also delve deep into personal territory with ‘Eleanor’ as the typically joyous band play from the heart. Written as an aid to help Eleanor (Tom’s partner) in her battle with mental health, the song is for those needing a ‘pick me up’.
“It’s a happy, summery ode to finding the right person who you just click with and can’t imagine being without,” commented Fran. “When we went back in the studio after the success of Matador, we didn’t know what to expect, but this came effortlessly as it was from the heart and, as it’s so close to Tom, none of us wanted to mess with his vision for what it should be.”
Slower numbers ‘Favourite Record’ and ‘Brando’ bring The Hollow Of Humdrum down a notch. They sound effortless and smooth as Fran’s vocals are put centre stage. ‘Brando’ has Alex Turner-esque vocals in reminiscence of Arctic Monkey’s 2013 AM album.
‘Dorado’ and ‘Girl Is A Gun’ echo vibes from Mexican Mariachi bands with up-tempo guitars and trumpets that feel like you inside an American Western film. Whilst final track ‘Holy Horses’ kicks off with a football-like World Cup-style entrance to spice up this LP with fire and enthusiasm.
To summarise, The Hollow Of Humdrum is an optimistic, energetic and insightful collection of ten songs – which builds on the band’s goodtime sensibilities with self-assured, confident lyrical intent, weaving themes of mental health, toxic masculinity and heartache into the threads of their pulse-quickening songs.
To purchase the album, and for details of their UK 2021 tour tickets, visit www.redrumclub.com
Featured image by Sam Crowston
