The Canadians Ducks Ltd. They already showed signs of their good work, when it comes to billing traditional guitar indie-pop, with their debut three years ago. “Modern Fiction” (Carpark, 21). A more than notable album that strengthened the desire for a continuation that now comes under the title of “Harm’s Way” (24) and that, in effect, confirms the group led by Tom McGreevy as advanced and obligatory to follow within its coordinates. A space that moves between immediate lines of traditional indie-pop – with a clear preference for jangle-pop – and, however, at the same time, manages to boast freshness and current punch.
It is the categorical result of combining splendid underlying melodies, impeccable guitars edging each and every one of the songs, and McGreevy’s beautiful voice guiding the matter in question. As with its predecessor, this release barely reaches half an hour in length, including a total of nine songs that move without pause and with a lively rhythm while jumping between well-chosen influences that include The Feelies, Violent Femmes, Felt, The Wedding Present, The Go-Betweens or Beat Happening.
A series of references that would be of little use without the obvious sense of smell of the combo to build a series of songs like the one that stars in the installment. The album opens with the exciting “Hollowed Out” and immediately endorses status with the single “Cathedral City” and that inescapable cucumber that is “The Main Thing”. A nerve that does not decay thanks to pieces of the type of “On Our Way to the Rave”a “A Girl, Running” with guitars like David Gedge, “Train Full Of Gasoline” o “Harm’s Way” con ecos a The Housemartins.
For its part, that cute half-time that is “Heavy Bag” confirms positive sensations and, incidentally, the good taste in the mouth, acting as the closing of an LP that confirms Ducks Ltd. as a charming band with a catalogue, to date, nothing short of impeccable. The group avoids trials and (fortunately) follows in the footsteps of their previous work, placing themselves close to Kiwi JR, The Reds, Pinks & Purples, The Goon Sax or even The Drums. Bands, all of them, that will not change anyone’s life, but that, in return, have the gift of making it more colorful and pleasant with apparent ease and for half an hour.