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URBAN TRAMPER: Rise and Ride Toward

Wellington five-piece Urban Tramper have been around the block a few times, not to mention a few blocks in Europe and the UK, and the list of contemporaries they have shared the stage with serves them well as a plinth upon which they can stand and watch their musical dynasty expand. ‘Rise and Ride Toward’ is a heartfelt collection of songs in an LP format that wanders around the ‘alternative’ genre with fairly big cheeky steps over the line into the territory of folk and pop – however one of the more enjoyable elements of the music is in its quaint quirkiness and propensity to side step cataloguing. Lyrically, and in the spirit of the group’s name, the tunes have an aura of exploration. Be it relationships, social idiosyncrasies, or human nature, concepts are explored almost exclusively as a narrative, allowing the listener to delve into the aural landscape and ponder along. Musically, there is a diverse range of instruments on show (with a large group of contributors adding their touch) from acoustic guitar to soaring choirs, and the boy-meets girl harmonies are a real highlight, endearing the listener to the artists and the stories they tell. The stand out tune is Hot Young Couples, an ironic jaunt on the realities of long term relationships in this day and age that typifies what works so well on this album. Self-recorded and produced in Wellington, this is highly recommended “future folk” (whatever that means).

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