REVIEW: Wild Colonials, Reel Life Vol. 1 (Chromatic)
- Chelsea Spear
Common principle in film-scoring dictates that all music, no matter how striking, original, or evocative in its own right, must play a supporting role to the images on screen. Sure, with the upswing of marketing there have been some exceptions to this rule, from the sinister-sounding collection of oldies that populated the Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs soundtracks to the aesthetic snake-oil that punctuated the ready-for-MTV action in such Gen-X cinematic marvels as Reality Bites and Empire Records. If the Wild Colonials' recent compilation of film music is any indication, however, the pendulum is swinging back and films are starting to seek a more understated vibe to their musical leanings. Unfortunately, the Colonials have taken this need for understatement and evocation to its logical extreme, since much of this album is rather banal-sounding.
If the original tracks included here are any indication, the Wild Colonials are exactly the kind of band you'd expect to see playing on the second stage at Lilith Fair. While their music can take on a pendulous, propulsive drive, most of the time it lingers in neutral, attempting to weave a spell with pretty melodies, slow, swaying tempos, and the occasional augmentation of an unusual instrument like didgeridoo, tambura or octigon to fill their sound. With their full, Celtic-influenced sound, the Colonials want most to sound like the Pogues, but their sanded-down edges and soft sounds instead end up emulating another soft quintet with a misleadingly raucous name, 10,000 Maniacs. Lead singer Angela McCluskey has a strong, sure voice that tonally resembles a more assured Natalie Merchant or more understated Dolores O'Riordan. All over, the sound is very *nice* -- while it has its moments of swaying beauty, it doesn't push the envelope enough.
To be fair, Reel Life Vol. 1 might not be the most representative work for this band. After all, most of the songs were written and performed for films, and might be places where the band either fails on greater risks or plays it safe like hired hands. And from perusing the liner notes it seems like the players are more interested in providing an appropriate sonic background for the action unfolding on-screen. Perhaps hearing these songs in their cinematic context would make for a greater effect. The musicians are clearly good at what they do, and with such a gem as a lead singer, one would hope they'd do more. I'm curious to hear if these Colonials truly get Wild when they are the center of attention.
