Getaway Tricycle - New Religion -EP

Getaway Tricycle

New Religion -EP
self-released; 2015

3.7 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry

In my book, any record featuring toast on the cover automatically scores bonus points. One such bready cover is found on the front of New Religion EP by Getaway Tricycle. The EP does not belie its promising cover photo, and in fact is an enjoyable collection of simple, yet catchy songs employing classic rock n’ roll techniques in innovative, original ways.

The EP begins with “Free,” a tune that begins somewhat slow but picks up momentum as the song progresses. Led by vocals characterized by a relaxed approach and a tinge of distinguished perspective, the song is driven by solid guitar riffs, steady drums, and accompanied by background vocals that create a full soundscape for the song.

Climbing from note to note in an ascending pattern, the motif repeated in “One to Blame” by guitars and vocals alike that sets this tune apart from the album in terms of catchiness. The haunting melody exists within an eerie atmosphere of minor, desolate chords and guitar picking and strumming. The chorus and bridge both work to lift the song from its relatively depressed state into a hopeful, optimistic condition.

“Prodigal Son” makes use of chromatic schemes and unconventional chording choices to create a song that feels discordant at first listen; however, as the song continues, the components of the song seem to fit together with more order and success. The record makes an unexpected turn into a Western, acoustically driven style in “What I Should’ve Done,” a slow, building ballad that smoothly transitions into a more energetically intense section towards the end of the song.

The final tune, the title track to the album, incorporates quick guitar strumming characterized by heavy echo and slight reverb. There is nothing extremely shocking in this last hurrah of the record, which does nothing to boost the value of the EP; however, it is another blend of the techniques found in previous tracks, and it does not detract from the obvious skill needed to fashion music in the manner that Getaway Tricycle consistently does.

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