The Golden Rail
Oh My!
Independent
The Golden Rail were formed in Melbourne by a revolving set of friends and musicians, but they firmly have their roots in Perth. Jeff Baker and Ian Freeman have been a songwriting tour de force for decades, but since their rejuvenation through moonlighting with The Jangle Band over the past two years they have hit a rich vein of form.
With an album for The Golden Rail due out later in the year, Oh My! is the first taste from the Melbourne based four piece. Having been masters of the power pop song, Baker and Freeman turn to a more cerebral slice of melody without sacrificing any of their sing-along wonder.
There are still layers of shimmering guitars, while the verses in Oh My! have the type of phrasing that is reminiscent of Robert Forster during The Go-Betweens heyday. It is the chorus that is of course undeniable with Freeman’s rich tones ably aided by the underlying sweetness of vocals by drummer Saki Sakamoto.
The Silent Birds (First Take) is a more restrained affair that is played live in the studio. So enamoured were the band with the ‘feel’ of this first take, that they decided it was strong enough to stand on its own without a plethora of dissection in the studio. It is a great testament to the chemistry of the members.
With this single The Golden Rail have signalled their intent. “Oh my heart” indeed!
CHRIS HAVERCROFT
