Martin Whittiker and Shane Dixon from Bromyard have been busy, very busy; creating a band name and a sound all of their own. Rewind by Tri-City Fanfare is as distinctive as the local Time Machine museum. Business, as, well, the unusual then
One remembered article from the past argued band names rarely reflected their own true identity and sound. The argument continued stating the only band which really sounded like their name was Big Country – I said it was an archived memory. Those sweeping chords and notes (…achieving the bagpipe sound with guitars?), sweeping vocals and sweeping drum flourishes all reflecting the sweeping Scottish countryside and let’s be honest here, the author was right. Accordingly, Tri-City Fanfare, have created their own fanfare and what a dirty fanfare we have to savour!
The squelch button has been tampered with and the heavy-handed chord sequence creates a dirty sound all of its own. There is no justice in simply listing bands that have employed a similar sound. Furthermore, “rock writers” could find themselves wedged down a rabbit hole of imagery searching for the elusive adjectives and adverbs to describe the sound: The pulsating grunge of discordant playback is instigated by determined down strokes and the resonating noise is a controlled cacophony of aggression and mournful feedback. Enough. Alternatively, one casual commentator known to Tri-City Fanfare simply suggested it sounds “old and warped”.
The human voice is an intrinsic part of the warpage and is intertwined throughout the track, used as an organic instrument, with the delivery part spoken and part sung but wholly visceral. All aided and abetted with a drum pattern that mirrors the chord changes. The result bringing to mind Dave Grohl’s infamous admittance that he plays the guitar in the same manner he plays the drums.
Tri-City Fanfare has clearly taken care of business. They required no help from the furlough scheme as this single must be considered essential listening; not least, because you have the (in)enviable task of trying to analyse the track’s DNA and identify their influences. Brutalist psychedelia anyone?
By: The Swilgate Scuttler