White Room – Take Me Away

Brighton’s White Room are a band who aren’t afraid of treading slightly into the past to appreciate some of the finer points of classic rock. With the likes of ‘Freaking On’, they introduced themselves as a band who could drag the hugest riffs reminiscent of the genre out kicking and screaming of the murky swamp, wipe off the cobwebs and give them a new lease of life. They look at the genre with psych-tinged glasses, adding a touch of fuzz into the mix. That’s definitely not a bad thing, either. They like a big old riff, and like making them the centrepiece of a whopping tune that sounds like an instant classic while still feeling totally contemporary. In that sense, ‘Take Me Away’ is no different. It’s a driving, propulsive beast, built on a riff that’s as meaty as a prime steak. But it’s just very slightly warped, wrapping itself around the tricky, complex percussion that keeps you on your toes, and is lent a light touch by singer Jake Smallwood and bassist Josie McNamara’s backing vocals. Steadily, it all builds towards a swirling, anthemic climax that’ll sweep you off your feet and into the psychedelic vortex; it’s easy to get sucked into their versatile rock.