After 12 years behind the drums with iconic rockers The Living End, Andy Strachan is clearly enjoying fronting new musical project The Pants Collective.
The EP, which showcases seven tunes, proves that Strachan is a capable songwriter in his own right and makes a welcome contribution to the rock landscape.
While his Living End roots are particularly evident on certain tracks, Strachan does delve into some fresh territory, making this an exercise in more than just replicating his other work and it demonstrates his diversity as a musician.
The “Collective” moniker of the recording came about with the project evolving out of jam sessions with friends, and the EP is characterised by the raw fun of creating music.
With an uncluttered sound, producer Paul ‘Woody’ Annison has captured the songs with an honest focus on the instruments, free from the distraction of laboured production effects.
The blistering opening track, “Secrets”, is a fast paced rocker structured around distorted power-chords and a catchy chorus; it’s the moment on the recording that most resembles the sound of The Living End.
From there the EP moves into bluesy riff rock territory with “It’s Gonna Be Fine” before “You’ll Never Know” opens up with softer gangly guitars, giving way to a grungy verse and alternating back to a lighter chorus.
“Closer” gives us bright guitars and driving bass, while “Take All My Time” is an upbeat tune that hooks the listener with the bright rhythm section of the chorus.
Strachan shows he knows how to construct a song around a strong beat with “Light to Shine” which moves along with a brisk shuffle, and provides catchy bridge harmonies.
The closing track “Hometown” is the most interesting offering of the EP: a reggae tune that ends up sounding like The Police; this song represents Strachan’s greatest departure from his back-catalogue and the risk pays off, resulting in the strongest track of the recording.
The greatest testament to the EP is that it captures the vibe of a jam session and promises material that will sound great in a live setting.
The Pants Collective is out now from Create/Control.
Reviewed by Matthew Trainor
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