The History of the World in Band Names, Part One: The Underground Railroad was a network of escape routes organized to help slaves reach safe states in nineteenth century America . The actual band itself is a much more modest proposition, though it’s still managed to engineer its own escape (well, in comparative terms, more of a Thomson’s mini-break) finding its way to a Seattle studio via Paris and a one room flat in Whitechapel.
The Railroad has a New Wave sound, flying in a guitar, drums, bass formation and with lead vocals shared between drummer Raphael Mura and guitarist Marion Andreu, which doesn’t result in a loss of focus at all but adds layers and makes them sound somehow more like a gang.
And the band definitely mine the stylish side of punk – ‘Stuff in Your Pocket’ is a dead ringer for the Velvets’ ‘Venus in Furs’ (with Andreu as an in-tune, French Nico). Similarly the opening track, ‘Poems for Freaks’ is a slow, stately paced tune with chiming guitar and somber melodies.
‘NYC’ has a Stooges swagger, while ‘Sticks’ and ‘New Variety’ are more abrasive, emo-tinged pieces.‘25’ is chug-a-long New Wave shot through with the irresistible vocals of Andreu. Her voice isn’t powerful and yet she gives the track all the lusty gusto of a raucous sea shanty by bellowing out the words and infusing them with a deliciously fanciable hint of French accent.
The band veer towards jauntiness as well, for example with ‘Kill Me Now (Or You Never Will)’ and ‘Six Pieds Sous Terre’ both slices of infectious Pixie-esque guitar pop .
All in all, the album is gritty and loveable, pop and punk, and closes with the graceful ‘Idealise’ which has a nursery rhyme simplicity until the choruses crash in with guitar chords like distant explosions. Like a band fading into the distance, making its getaway.