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Race debut single

The Race: Raising Children/Go Figure

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by Matthew Butler
The Race explode off the blocks like a rocket on their debut single with 'Go Figure', but it is the yearning quality of 'Raising Children' which puts the band well ahead of the competition.

‘Go Figure’ is more standard sounding rock fare but still an unapologetic, impassioned and impressive call to arms. Sounding like Muse if Mr Bellamy was still a virgin to the opera, what it lacks in O.T.T. it makes up for with a B.I.G. chorus and its heart beating away on the sleeve unashamedly crying out “I love you.”

‘Raising Children’, however, is how The Smiths' ‘Ask’ would have sounded if written by a five-piece from Reading, turning a missive about bedroom dwellers into anthemic splendour. The drums come crashing down around singer Dan Buchanan whose sneering but earnest voice transports you away from the drabness of four walls.

An imbedded swirling piano is understated yet infectious (bearing a large resemblance to that of Coldplay’s ‘Clocks’) and completes a chorus which positively sparkles. An atmospheric middle section proves that this isn’t just blanket music for coy indie types and it’ll be interesting to see if they choose the big rock sound route or this challenging melodic path.

Still, it’s a marathon not a sprint so there’s plenty of time for The Race to figure out which direction to pursue.

  • The Race 8 / 10

The Race - Raising Children/Go Figure

Saw The Race supporting Supergrass a few weeks ago, and I really couldn't tell if they were any good or not.
At points they seemed very good, at others very dull.
And the sound quality was shit, which didn't help.

The Race - Raising Children/Go Figure

I've seen them twice in Reading, they were good both times.

Re: The Race - Raising Children/Go Figure

I've also seen them in reading and enjoyed it.

The Race - Raising Children/Go Figure

Sounds interesting and, more importantly, with a name like The Race I foresee lots and lots of sly and overt puns in their future. It's just one of many hurdles they've have to overcome to guarantee a place in the winners podium as they cross their own personal finish line. Sprint marathon relay.

Hah. Sorry. I'll get me coat.




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