Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
For any rock band to come out of Australia the unfair comparisons to AC/DC will always be bandied around like unwanted beer at a college dormitory party. For some the high expectations that the name carries forward will drag them down and cause ructions and implosions, for others they will strive to carve out their own niche and be better for it.
The U.K. has always had a soft spot when it comes to rock from the great southern continent and tries to support any new act, other places are not as forgiving, if it’s AC/DC then they don’t want to know. However great AC/DC were and yes they were great, eventually there will come a time when they just simply stop being there. For the powerhouse that is Tracer, that doesn’t matter because they already sound great and their second album El Pistolero sees them rise in stature and quality of music to a brand new high.
In 2012 Tracer were winners of “Best New Band” at the Classic rock roll of Honour Awards and judging by the crispness and physical endeavour that is evident in the production of El Pistolero, it was a honour that was rightly bestowed, a piece of music that combines the feel of the great classic Western with the crunching riff of classic rock, the rattlesnake in high season angered by the punishing heat coupled with the a soft serenade, the depth of Gary Cooper with the legend of Ned Kelly, brilliantly and wonderfully rolled into one big swag bag of rock payback.
Within the framework of the album, the narrative sang by Michael Brown is just amazing, cracking lyrics followed up by some incredible guitar and bass make songs such Until The War is Won, Dirty Little Secret, Lady Killer and Wolf In Cheap Clothes all mark the album as a delight, something that might bypass those that cannot get past bands that have been such a big part of music. No matter how great the past, some music deserves a bigger audience and Tracer and El Pistolero is such a group and very much an album.
El Pistolero is realeased on May 6th.
Ian D. Hall