Localized Music: Walking Bicycles’ ¿Go?
Disconnected, the 2006 full-length LP and first from local trio Walking Bicycles, has an interesting concept: A different producer helmed each of its two sides. Former Red Red Meat singer Brian Deck (Gomez, Modest Mouse) managed side A, while Side B was engineered by Steve Albini. However, it isn’t as gimmicky as that might suggest: It was a series of propulsive, anthemic, but nearly identical, statements of musical purpose. By contrast, the new ¿Go? is a little more varied: Tempos are scaled back, the dynamics have greater contrast, and the musical palette is slightly more refined.
¿Go? is adventurous and immensely satisfying, even when it doesn’t meet the impossibly classic standards of their influences. At its best, the album expertly captures the vibrant urgency of melodic post-punk, and additional experimentation (like the Tom Waits-like accordion of “Dead Idols”) only serves WB better. Fans of Sleater-Kinney and Fugazi’s final album should view ¿Go? not as a question, but as an invitation. Accept it. Grade: A-
