Crack Cloud – ‘Red Mile’ album review: An endearingly complex and intimate offering

Name: Crack Cloud - Red Mile
Rating: 4

Ben Forrest

Wed 24 July 2024 21:48, UK

Crack Cloud - 'Red Mile'

THE SKINNY: Genre conventions and identification can often be limiting for artists, regularly limiting creativity and inspiring an endless deluge of uninspiring music. During such a saturated period in musical history, it is refreshing to hear groups like Crack Cloud, who take little to no notice of genre conventions. Instead, the musical collective from Vancouver, Canada, offers a unique blend of seemingly disparate styles brought together by the artistry of the band members and the incredible chemistry between those members.

It has been two years since the release of Crack Cloud’s previous record, 2022’s Tough Baby – a standout album from that particular year. Seemingly, though, those two years have not been wasted by the band, as their latest effort, Red Mile, is perhaps their most accomplished to date. Darting unpredictably from gentle piano tracks to candid, punk-inspired lyricism, the album succeeds in keeping audiences constantly on their toes. Although the gentle music of songs like the opener, ‘Crack of Life’, lulls listeners into a false sense of security, this relaxation is immediately contrasted by the vocal styles of Zach Choy.

Choy’s vocals regularly evoke the punk heritage of artists like Richard Hell, as does Will Choy’s drawl in the drunken crooner charm of songs like ‘Ballad Of Billy’. More so than the vocals, though, what makes Choy’s efforts so compelling is how intimate and candid his lyricism is. In addition to Choy, vocals are also contributed by regular members Bryce Cloghesy and Aleem Khan. Some of the most endearing moments of the album, however, come when Emma Acs and Eve Adams feature as guest vocalists. These ethereal voices help to break up the dominance of Choy’s distinctive tones, offering a refreshing new perspective on the sound of Crack Cloud.

Other notable guests on the record include Nathaniel Philips, whose saxophone stylings contribute towards the overarching atmosphere of a sleazy jazz bar-come-punk revenue that permeates across the entirety of Red Mile. Although Crack Cloud is still classed as a relatively new, up-and-coming group – at least on this side of the Atlantic – this latest album confirms the fact that the band is among the most exciting, innovative groups currently in operation. At only eight tracks in duration, however, Red Mile certainly leaves the listener wanting more, so, hopefully, we will not have to wait another two years for the follow-up.

For fans of: Going on holiday to New York and being disappointed to find that it is nothing like Taxi Driver anymore.

A concluding comment from a local folk punk artist: “It’s not fair; not all of us have a collective of gifted musicians and instruments to back up our mopey lyricism.”

Red Mile track-by-track:

Release date: July 26th | Producer: Crack Cloud | Label: Jagjaguwar

‘Crack Of Life’: A gentle, spaced-out track lulls you into Red Mile, encapsulating the endlessly broad sound of Crack Cloud by switching up the atmosphere of the song on a sixpence. In isolation, this is not an incredibly notable effort, but it sets up the rest of the album excellently. [3/5]

‘The Medium’: The tranquil piano track that opens this song is almost immediately juxtaposed by the vocals of Zach Choy, which evoke the tones of figures like Richard Hell or Johnny Thunders. It’s like punk rock, but if everyone was drinking red wine rather than doing heroin. [3.5/5]

‘Blue Kite’: Although the orchestral arrangement of this song evokes high-brow composition and artistry, the lyrics sound closer to somebody’s folk-punk solo project. Rather than feeling sonically confused, however, this contrast in sound helps to create a pretty captivating track. [3.5/5]

‘Lack Of Lack’: The instrumental beginnings of this track sound like the soundtrack of a particularly dark art house film, but the drum fills and impressive saxophone work prevent it from ever becoming background music. [4.5/5]

‘Epitaph’: Featuring a mix of vocalists, this cinematic track is incredibly refreshing and works to prevent the tracklisting from growing too repetitive or bland. The candid nature of the lyricism makes it difficult not to be drawn into the emotion of the song. [4/5]

‘I Am (I Was)’: This is about as upbeat as Crack Cloud gets on this record, and the results are pretty enjoyable. The song has a distinctly organic – almost improvisational – nature to it, which reflects the collective leadership of the band. [3.5/5]

‘Ballad Of Billy’: Delivered with all the charm and vocal proficiency of a drunk crooner coming to the end of a particularly testing club residency, ‘Ballad Of Billy’ is arguably the album’s stand-out track, capturing the essence of the band as a whole. [4.5/5]

‘Lost On The Red Mile’: The vast selection of organs and keyboards employed throughout this album is particularly evident on the closing track, only overshadowed by the ethereal vocals which accompany them. However, eight tracks are simply not enough for Crack Cloud to sustain audiences until the next release. [4/5]