A British group
who strongly evoke memories of the past, it’s interesting that Goldrush
haven’t been lauded to the same degree that the vastly
over-hyped (and major label-based) the Magic Numbers
have been.
Hailing from Oxford, there’s none of the precision
of a Radiohead or the pop directness of a Supergrass
to Goldrush – instead a better indication as to look
to the production chair, where Rod Campanella (Brian
Jonestown Massacre) and Dave Fridmann (the Flaming
Lips, Mercury Rev) sit in. It means that the sound
of Ozona is full of shimmering melodies that
evoke the likes of long-gone English shoe-gazers
Ride.
Given that Goldrush have backed former frontman
Mark Gardener several times, it probably shouldn’t
be too surprising. The strings-drenched “Let You
Down” is an anthem of epic proportions, but whether
they can have mainstream success where Ride flamed
out and burned away – much as Snow Patrol have taken
their love for Sebadoh to mega-success – remains
to be seen.
It was outside the small town of Ozona that Goldrush
broke down on their way to South By Southwest in
Texas, and that spirit of roaming is found throughout
this sophomore set. There’s no doubt that the songs
are good enough. While only “Counting Song” and “There’s
a World” expand the sonics beyond the six-minute
marks, you can imagine that in the live setting Goldrush
explore the textures and templates of their sound
more intricately and with greater desire.
