Burn The Rails
Pravda, 2022
8/10
A Chicago outfit spearheaded by Brad Elvis Steakley (drums, backing vocas) and Chloe F. Orwell (lead vocals, sax, flute, rhythm guitar), as The Handcuffs they bring a wide variety of influences to this 4th album of sonically charming melodies and nostalgic rock’n’roll that’s still quite modern.
“Grapefruit” gets the album off to a loud, energetic start, where a quick blast of thick guitar, bright brass and thumping drums segues into the more cautious “Love Me While You Can”, where mature piano complements the soulful singing while grit and melody are balanced precisely.
Elsewhere, “Let’s Name Our Children” welcomes Inga Olson’s strategic cello on the multi-faceted rocker, while “I’m Happy Just To Dream With You” offers a charming and retro-spirit that’s got an undeniable sing-along appeal.
Deeper into the back half of the listen, “Dancing With The Dandies” certainly will get your body moving, as plenty of rhythm is executed with glam-rock nods, and “Tobogganing” exits the listen with some spacey exploration, where mystery and atmosphere populate the adventurous finish.
An exciting listen that reminds us of Led Zeppelin, Patti Smith, and Roxy Music to name a few, The Handcuffs make great use of every second here, and thanks to Emily Togni’s bass, Alison Hinderliter’s keys and synth and Jeffrey Kmieciak’s guitar work, you’re going to want to devote plenty of time to Burn The Rails.
Travels well with: Hushdrops- The Static; Steve Almaas- Everywhere You’ve Been