ALBUM REVIEW: Wild Adriatic Returns, Strong As Ever
Photo by Bryan Lasky
“Their adaptability and genre-weaving mastery is like a superpower which gives the tunes the originality to stand on their own, while staying true to their roots.”
If one can feel nostalgic for a brand new album, I would surmise that is how I felt upon my first listening of the new self-titled Wild Adriatic record. While the songs are new, they had me flashing back in time – back when I first started discovering that my Dad’s music was ‘cool.’ Bands like Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Jackson Browne, Blood, Sweat & Tears. It isn’t that Wild Adriatic’s music sounds like these bands, or is even necessarily musically related; it was the timeless sound that caught me.
Like Wild Adriatic tapped into the sacred formula.
Enough familiar elements of the blues, funk, and soul are woven within the songs that they could easily fit into any of those categories, but they never settle into just one style. That adaptability and genre-weaving mastery is like a superpower which gives the tunes the originality to stand on their own, while staying true to their roots.
Travis Gray’s vocals really pull their weight on these songs. From soulful rockers like “Simple Thing” and “Balderdash” to the mournful gospel-infused “Run Back Home,” Gray is not only a capable narrator, but one of the most powerful voices in the 518 and beyond. The rest of the band is right there with him. The intricacy of Mateo Vognasian’s drum beats, with fills expertly placed where needed, and held back when not, are certainly an irreplaceable element of this record. The horns and drums have a playful banter at the crescendo of “Until The Lights Go Out” that is so fun and catchy, it was hard not to go right in for a relisten.
“In The Mood” brings an acoustic guitar to the forefront, and while it begins a little on the mellow side, the sing-along chorus and build up to its end is sure to make this one a favorite at Wild Adriatic live shows.
Blistering guitars, grooving basslines, frantic keyboards and urgent vocals are all over this album, but are put fully on display in “It’s Hell.” The track sounds like the audio embodiment of a car chase in a 70s action movie. It moves so fast, is completely unpredictable, and like the car chases of yore, is downright thrilling.
“Voodoo Blues” ends the album and, while on its surface is a by-the-numbers blues song, the subtle use of a vibraslap’s spooky undertone does seem to take some inspiration from more bayou-centric sources. It’s as if a blues song was written in the swampy woods of Louisiana.
Every element is solid from beginning to end. The arrangement and production are top-notch, the songs are fresh, lively and expertly crafted – I would not be surprised to see this album garner national attention.
In fact, I absolutely expect it.
Wild Adriatic’s self-titled record is available now on Bandcamp and physical media.
