Have you ever wondered what happens when a punk voice meets a ukulele, banjo, and mandolin? Wonder no more, because that’s what Alex Rake and The Leaves’ new demo album is all about. The scene of alternative and experimentation music is quite a tricky genre. Its biggest problem is that there is a very thin line between what is an experimental piece and what becomes just a mash of howling and indistinguishable sounds topped with an overdone voice. In the case of Alex Rake, however, the combination of playful, lighthearted ukulele and his desperate voice goes beyond intriguing.
The album consists of four pieces, each carrying a unique layout of both voiceover and background instrumental, provided by solemn ukulele and sometimes mandolin. The first demo “We Can and We Can’t” greets us with a brisk Spanish riff and later on flows into Irish undertones. Which is remarkable considering it is provided by a ukulele. It could be called a bizarre love ballad, a rant. And its rhythmical quality sort of matches with song “Devils Dance Floor” by Flogging Molly. (Try to play both songs simultaneously; it’s unbelievable how they complement each other.) For such a melodic song it has an unexpectedly forceful finish. In contrast, “Love is a Train Station” is a gentle, painful, trampy song, with a bit of recital thrown in for good measure. Overall the singing is slightly displaced from the rhythm of the tune, which creates a disarray characteristic to grunge and punk. More so the dynamic switching of the tempo keeps you focused on the song.
As said, there is nothing quite like a good song about love. “I Skimmed the News Today Oh Boy Blues” has a cheerful beginning. It’s political criticism in song, standing up to its punk quality with a reaction to social issues. The song is enjoyable, for its playful background quite sharply contrasts its heavy lyrics. If I want to go even further, the contrast itself is an ironic reflection on how politicians like to talk about our (not) flawless society. Out of all four songs this one probably has the biggest focus on storytelling.
The last piece, quite fittingly called “The Sailor Returning” leans its sail into Ireland again, this time with a mandolin. It’s a voice-based piece. One might call it a progressive sea shanty. With it, we end our cruise through alternative sound waves. I repeat, it’s dang hard to create quality music in the experimental genre. But, I can say with peace in my soul that Alex Rake did it. He found that thin line between song and chaos and walked it — most of the time. If I want to be a nitpicker, there were some passages which brought a feeling of repetitiveness and on few occasions, Rake’s voice became too painful. But, overall those small missteps cannot overshadow the good in the album. Honestly, I haven’t heard anything so hauntingly fine since Plastic People of the Universe went out of business. (They are Czech, but if you like alternative I prod you to go and listen to them.) The end verdict is: play it. It’s good, it’s local, and it’s not easy to come by these days.
