As the summer begins to wind down, there’s an undeniable sense of Americana impacting indie rock, and for those in search of a prime example of this growing trend, I’d point towards Wreckless Strangers’ new single “Fast Girls.”
Both the structure of the song and the original substance itself are primed with a surreal mix, but production wizardry has little to do with the music’s charm. Wreckless Strangers approach melodies with a steady hand in “Fast Girls,” and while they fail to capitalize on several opportunities to give us an eruptive fever pitch, I don’t believe that they were trying to develop something particularly bombastic or stadium-shaking in this latest release. Their style of play is quite conservative yet beholden to a countrified but non-Nashville experimentalism that makes it feel as though we’re on a rollercoaster, unaware of what twists and turns lie in the tracks ahead. It’s tailored more for the audiophile than the average listener without debate, but there’s nothing wrong with that if you love fresh alternative music as much as I do.
The framework of this song is rooted in a 70’s-style folkiness, with the obvious surface layers utilizing heavy alternative guitar tones to create as much of a grind in the strings as there is in the percussion, and though some elements work a lot better than others, every component feels fairly balanced in the grander scheme of things. The guitar solo explodes through the bassline like a wrecking ball crashing into a solid brick wall, and though the bass parts that follow go through what I can only assume is a crude mono filtration that I was surprised to enjoy this much, the harmony they create is still a chilling one.
“Fast Girls” was not conceived with mainstream consumption in mind, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s perfectly fine. It’s positive in that Wreckless Strangers are essentially confirming their non-interest in selling out, and perhaps a bit negative only when analyzed through a commercial-minded lens. In short, I take it that this band is more focused on making good music than they are making music that will sell to a multitude of audiences, which is something listeners should respect more than they probably will.
It’s not the most accessible song that I’ve reviewed this year, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that Wreckless Strangers’ “Fast Girls” wasn’t an entrancing track worthy of the attention it’s been getting as of late. The winter is right around the corner, and with the momentum that Wreckless Strangers are building at the moment, I think they would be wise to consider breaking off a follow-up to last year’s LP a lot sooner than later. There’s a strong bond between the musicians comprising this group’s lineup, and if they continue to steer clear of the mainstream blueprint and adhere to their own set of standards through the next couple of years instead, I can see them gaining a cult following with the potential for even more down the line. I am impressed with this release and intend to stay tuned for more.
Chadwick Easton