Richard Scarry Lied To Me
Gare du Nord, 2021
10/10
Listen Richard Scarry Lied To Me
The 3rd album from the Southampton trio that features Dan O’Farrell on vocals and guitar and Rick Foot and Chris Walsh handling double bass/vocals and drums/percussion respectively, Richard Scarry Lied To Me is all over the place as far as genres go, and not quite as political or dreary as their earlier work.
The album starts with the strong guitar work of “Here It Comes”, where grit and melody meet at an intersection that embraces folk and alt-rock, and “Dear Life” follows with a softer quality where punchy keys and crisp percussion guide a dreamy elegance of mature indie-rock.
Things only get more interesting from here, including the Bossa Nova nods of the acoustic guitar picking friendly “What Do I Know?”, while the moody strings of the bare and intimate “Hedgehog” is pure beauty and grace. “Extinction Man”, a truly great tune, then bristles with an alt-rock rock spirit where a busy display of noisy but tuneful dynamics impress and captivate.
Further still, “Tempus Fugitive” is a scrappy rocker that recruits crashing percussion alongside bass acrobatics and driving guitars, and “Tame Atlantics” exits the listen with much atmosphere as hypnotic keys and eloquent singing illuminate the sea shanty finish.
A record that can entertain a protest song ala Billy Bragg, just as it can the early rawness of Frank Turner, O’Farrell and company are diverse enough to welcome flute, saxophone, mellotron, and piano, among others, and there just isn’t a second wasted on this exceptional effort.