Vanilla : On My Way Home
(Digital release single on all major platforms)

Spring is sprunging, work is cancelled and the sun is (almost) shining on Swansea Bay. This is the perfect soundtrack to go with all this gushing positivity.

  

Opening with a looping vocal hook 'n' harmony that keeps you lassoed throughout the track, On My Way Home will leave you too wanting to dance across the beach. The twin guitars enter gently before caressing the listener into submission with their infectious inflections as the slightly wistful verses give way to upbeat, summery choruses. The guitars work together in a way that puts clichéd notions of 'rhythm' and 'lead' to bed, both instruments pouring out a cornucopia of interlaced chord based riffs that remind me of the jit guitar style made popular by Zimbabwean bands, notably The Bhundu Boys. Anyone who thinks a rock band needs a bass to give the guttural kick in the guts will have to suck up their words; the drums pack enough punch to lay out the toughest sound geek and then get them up again and dancing.

As was proved when Vanilla played the inaugural R*E*P*E*A*T gig in Swansea and had the whole room moshing, moving or just smiling madly.

More pix here

It's been a long time since I've been inspired to attempt the limitations of a single review, but this mix of melody, magic and moveability has left me powerless to resist.

Don't believe me? Catch Vanilla live at Creature Sound tonight (29th March) and then at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff on April 1st and The Bunkhouse back (on my way) home in Swansea on April 5th.


Rosey R*E*P*E*A*T

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