Hurray for the Riff Raff (from the album The Past Is Still Alive

Hurray for the Riff Raff (from the album The Past Is Still Alive

Hurray for the Riff Raff (from the album The Past Is Still Alive available on Nonesuch Records (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Hurray for the Riff Raff have always seemed like a band stuck between two worlds, that of indie Americana versus a more expansive realm of prescient progressive posturing. Nowhere has that been more evident than on their latest opus, The Past Is Still Alive, an album that frequently begs the question of how to reconcile today’s current reality with the wistful notions that linger in the afterglow of past precepts. When singer Alynda Segarra declares ‘I used to think I was born into the wrong generation’ on the track titled “Ogallala”, it’s as if she’s seeking a wistful retreat from circumstances she’s never quite prepared to either contemplate or confront.
 
While certain songs — “Buffalo”, “Colossus Of Roads”, and “Hourglass” in particular — share a quiet ache and a sound indicative of subdued melancholia, the mood they share isn’t necessarily indicative of the attitude expressed overall. Indeed, “Alibi” is serene and reassuring, just as “Hawkmoon” is decidedly determined. Even more to the point, “Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive)” and “Vetiver” are positively effusive, with the former offering what’s best described as perky and percolating, and the latter coming across with an effusive wail. “The World Is Dangerous” belies its ominous title and positively swings, just as “Dynamo”, its handle aside, shares an easy saunter and sway. If in fact, Segarra and company are concerned about the collision of past and present as they seem to suggest, the overall tone also indicates there’s a certain ease in their adjustment.
 
Naturally, any album that has a philosophical bent leaves open the possibility that the message will inevitably override the music and color it through its drive and delivery. Yet here, once again, Hurray for the Riff Raff manage to balance their objectives in ways that allow their themes to resonate without obscuring the allure and appeal. Ultimately, that’s what allows The Past Is Still Alive to retain its sense of timeless tenacity. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Hurray for the Riff Raff from AMAZON
 
More information is available on the Hurray for the Riff Raff website