Friday, February 23, 2024

Hurray For The Riff Raff - The Past Is Still Alive

 


It's comforting to wake up on a Friday morning to find two immediately wonderful freshly released albums waiting for me. Like birthday gifts on the doormat. Laetitia Sadler's Rooting For Love which I've already reviewed. And this, the latest from  Hurray For The Riff Raff.

Alynda Segarra HFTRR's alter ego, has maintained an excellent hitting record in recent seasons which immediately led to my antennae rising in anticipation of the arrival of The Past Is Still Alive. Expectations were immediately met. Another excellent record.

She's in laidback mood here. The album cover shot of her sat in her living room window. Or else at a corner table at a favourite diner, hat elegantly cocked over her eyes. The record more than matches and then surpasses this immediate impression. All said this is a fluid, masterful set of guitar driven songs with engaged but tempered lyrics.  

Segarra's well aware of the pitiful state of the world. End days. But also aware of exactly how much, or perhaps how little she can do about it. .She's resigned. But that's an elightened, not a questionable stance to arrive at I'd say. There's never a moment's doubt that she still cares about the things that matter as much as she ever did.

This is more than enough. Hurray For The Riff Raff were due to play at a favourite venue near me last time round but pulled the gig at the last minute. I hope they reschedule though the world doesn't always work out that way. I'd love to see them live and witness the fire in their eyes. Fantastic stuff. And I've only played the reccord once. More than enough to know. Think I'll give it another play. Invest in its narrative.

* Oh and that's some album title too.


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