The High Wire - 'Ahead Of The Rain' (Impatio Sound) Released 25/02/08

The British summer is a fickle thing. The people of this isle spend their whole year waiting for 2 weeks of sun (or at least time without rain) to have their best memories. So around about now most people are desperately seeking any sort of omens as to the fate of those two weeks. The launch of The High Wire’s debut, ‘Ahead Of The Rain’ at this early stage of the year is certainly a good one.

It’s a cliché to call any album a ‘summer’ record. But in the case of ‘Ahead of The Rain’ it couldn’t be anything else. Partly this is because this record is so relaxed it must represent the only two weeks UK stress heads get off work per year. More importantly it’s such a vibrant creamy mix of summer festival bands. You know, the ones that nobody see all year until the warm weather kicks in (you know how who you are, Ash!). The High Wire have taken the spacey sound of The Delays, nicked the traditional instrumentation of The Poly phonic Spree and then added something that feels warm and slightly alcoholic to it.

And largely the result is remarkable. Title track ‘Ahead Of The Rain’ is shimmering in it’s ethereal majesty. An introvert instrumental piece, it certainly gives more than a nod to Radiohead’s ‘No Surprises’ yet with a musical dose of prozak as a side order. First single ‘Saint Bees’ meanwhile is a wash of hazy vocals and multiple levels of string. At times hinting at the lighter side of My Bloody Valentine this song also hides a Brit Pop twang as one of its many layers.  

‘You don’t know what I know’ by standards set is a bit of a dud note. The plodding two chord rhythm is soulless in comparison to other efforts and simply lacks the life of other efforts. Luckily all is quickly forgotten when ‘Rope Walking’ throws Beatles-esque pop etiquette in a brooding pool of delay, and as such probably makes for the best track on the album.

Alas, like the dying days of summer when the warm sun is fading, ‘Tigers’ at the end of this release also starts to lack warmth. Feeling too formulaic, ‘Tigers’ is a tired effort of a song. This has been made worse by irregular and sporadic drumming reminiscent a monkey trying not to fall asleep in the tree for fear of falling.

Never the less, the strong moments on ‘Ahead Of The Rain’ make The High Wire a force to be reckoned with. And when Tim Crompton moans on ‘Saint Bees’ that he’s “Still waiting to be seen”, with songs like these I can’t imagine he’ll be waiting long before he gains a good following. One of the few acts already announcing they’re to play Glastonbury, The High Wire are all lined up to rule your summer time. So lets all make hay while the sun shines. Just don’t go looking for them in November, ok?