WHARVES, THE - Electa (CD)

The Wharves return with their second long-player for Gringo Records. Three part vocal harmonies remain staple to the format, underpinning a progressive instrumental step-up. They combine gracefully minimal psyche-rock with fuzzed out folk. They invoke the reverberated spook of 60's groups, the mid-fi guitar crunch of Kim Deal's The Amps, the sisterly vocal harmonies of The Roches and the narrative and structural panache of 70's progressive folk. Thunderous drumming drives through these compositions, ensuring the wealth of disparate influences remain focused and celebratory. On Electa, Dearbhla Minogue's much-lauded guitar work navigates more inventively than ever around the tight and melodic rhythm section delivered with all the gusto and trust of a band five years into playing together. Song writing duties are democratic as always, with drummer Marion Andrau delivering two atmospheric and personal stand-outs that reveal an entire new dimension of possibility for the group. Utilising the twenty-piece all-female Rebel Choir on immense closer 'My Will', usual bass-player Gemma Fleet takes to the guitar and leads the ensemble to unite a powerful crescendo that defines Electa's confident feel: a rock record not afraid to experiment.