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Let “Red Travellin’ Socks” wash over you, give in to its jubilant overtures and spirited chorus, surrender to its staccato crescendo of an ending, and be glad we live in a world where people still write songs this good.
For the uninitiated, Malcolm Middleton was formerly half of Arab Strap, a band whose elegiac music was sorrowful and, at times, cynical, but always intelligent and distinctive. As “Red Travellin’ Socks”–the lead track from his just released third fifth solo effort, Waxing Gibbous–proves, Middleton has left the somber tempos of his former band behind him and hasn’t so much as glanced in the rear view mirror. It isn’t hyperbole to say this song is a celebration of life, a saturnalia of sound.
“Red Travellin’ Socks” begins strapped to a rocket, launching itself forward at a breakneck pace. Things ease up a bit during the verses–but only just–before pouncing forth yet again. Indeed, the gallop is so fleet that the breakdown in the song’s middle section is almost obligatory; it is a deft bit of pacing on Middleton’s part that adds an extra bit of vim to the track’s closing. And what a doozy that end section is, the grand finale of a Fourth of July fireworks display turned into music. It’s enough to leave one breathless and wanting more. Really, what more could you ask of a song?
(46 votes, average: 8.33 out of 10)
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June 17th, 2009 at 5:23 am
I love Malcolm. This is another excellent song from him!
June 17th, 2009 at 8:39 am
A 10 all the way. Superb!!!
June 17th, 2009 at 9:19 am
This is the best song I’ve heard in a long time =)
June 17th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Third solo effort? Malcolm’s released a good few more than that!
June 19th, 2009 at 2:11 am
This is brilliant – playing on repeat at the moment – genius
June 19th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
The first few listens I wasn’t sure about this track and rest of the Waxing Gibbous album (MM’s last album – Sleight of Heart – is truly exceptional), but they quickly grew on me, and yes … they’re up there too. Great music for singing along to while driving on motorways in the dead of night, wondering what the hell it’s all about. Don’t ask me.