We first saw Reading five-piece The Race play at the West End Centre in Aldershot before they had even released their debut album ‘Be Your Alibi’ back in 2006. Now, they’re back with a new four-track EP after almost two decades away. The songs cover the power of community, the concept of aging and ever-changing joys of parenthood. One of the key themes across the songs is ‘learning when top hold on and when to let people you love find their own way’.
‘Best is Yet to Come’ is an enticing welcome back after almost two decades away, finding Dan Buchanan offering parental advice (a theme throughout the EP) to ‘Slow down, maybe, you don’t have to be so strong’ amidst repeats of the song’s title and an atmospheric Editors-esque guitar sound. As the anthemic nature increases, he proudly declares ‘I’m always with my people’. ‘D of E’ follows this up with a more angular, shoegaze-inspired sound. This time, Dan starts to lament the passing of time aging – ‘Waiting for seasons to change, I’m barely hanging on’ – while also finding comfort (comfort) in the arms of a loved one: ‘Even when I’ve had my doubts, you were never close to walking out’.
‘Family Tree’ was specifically written at the request of Dan’s son, and again focuses on the importance of family and being there for one another – particularly in times of adversity: ‘I’ve seen the struggles and the things you’ve face, made you strong in all kinds of ways’. It ends with an emotional and effective repeat of the words ‘You are enough to be here’ against a Pixies-esque soundtrack. The closing ‘Where You Go I Go’ opens with some twinkly emo guitar hooks before shifting into more experimental post-rock-tinged effects, complete with military drums and cinematic flourishes as Dan sings: ‘You don’t need to worry no more, I couldn’t love you any more. Where you go, I go’.
After the extended hiatus, this EP proves The Race are still winning.
