The Rakes
Ten New Messages

THE REVIEW

Lived for quite some time in the shadow of the giant Franz Ferdinand, the Londoners Rakes finally arrive at their second album exactly two years after their raw debut "Capture/Release".

"Ten New Messages" is an impressive leap forward!

Despite the media overdose of the so-called new "British invasion" having nearly exhausted its effects, the Rakes with this new work prove they can create a sound mix made of captivating melodies, intriguing bass lines, and rampant "wave" guitars, far surpassing the 'trendy' spirit of many bands in the genre (Editors, the same Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, and many others) and packaging ten beautiful songs from the first to the last.

The breathtaking start of "The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect" (delightful title) seems to take us back to the most fervent and creative period of the 80s among Cure, Gang Of Four, The Sound, and other delights; then "Little Superstitions" captivating and smart, cannot leave you indifferent, with its bittersweet taste halfway between a "Sunday Morning" and a "She's My Best Friend" by the Velvet Underground; and then "We Danced Together" lively and rhythmic with a pulsating bass that seems to come to life from the speakers, "Down With Moonlight" killer single perfect for post-wave clubs (never mind "Do You Want To") and "When Tom Cruise Cries", with reminiscences of the best Psychedelic Furs. None of these ten tracks is to be thrown away; in fact, the blazing sequence of tracks invites an inevitable and deserved re-listen.

For heaven's sake, the Rakes have not invented anything new. They are not Radiohead, they don’t have the crazy genius of Sigur Rós or Arcade Fire, but they manage to play that new-wave like nobody else that has cradled us and will always accompany us as music progresses in the years to come.

A mention for the splendid cover that features symbols of the Morse alphabet, corresponding to the letters of the title and the band's name. A graphic style typical of the early albums of New Order. Well, what a coincidence!!!