Cold Engines is an all star line up of musicians who have already achieved many things in the New England music scene. Taking their alt-country sound into the studio was a wise choice, resulting in Day Drinker, a ten track album loaded with fresh, perky country sounds pushed along with a driving rock edge. David Drouin, Aaron Zaroulis, Amelia Gormley, and Geoff Pilkington are onto something interesting and engaging here.
Opening track “Kismet” is timeless in its lush harmonies and smooth underpinnings. Not easily pigeonholed into any one genre, it leaps out of the stereo speakers with a warm freshness. A whispery low key lead vocal sounds mysterious and inviting while a myriad of fine touches from the instrumentalists create a large wave of something lively and new.
“I Know That Love Is Real” swings in on a sprawling pedal steel line before giving more breathing room to an engaging vocal. Voice and pedal steel melody continue to offer their own special sounds. An instrumental break proves engaging as it unfolds, driven by a lead guitar phrase with a lot of personality.
“Candy” chugs along at a comfortable cruising speed until bass player Amelia Gormley coaxes it forward with a dark, smooth low end. Over this beauty of bass finesse, a smooth, distant vocal emits in considerately measured emotion while perky guitar notes travel down their forlorn melancholy road. An adept drum technique from Geoff Pilkington puts a pushy pattern behind all of this, impressing while it suavely moves the song along.
Next up, “Marry The Season” turns like a sweet waltz on a gentle, movable beat. Moving with as much grace as a dancer, the tuneful number has the sweet personality of a country gentleman politely courting the right lady. The vocal is tender and self-restrained, and balances well with perky little pedal steel notes in the backdrop.
On “Your Turn,” Cold Engines rocks it up, sprinkles it with soulful organ and jazzy horns, and takes it out of the oven nice and warm. This one feels like part classic rock and part classic R&B. It’s got swing and it’s got smack. The lead vocal is engaging and it gets plenty of lift as it launches itself over a heft of organ swirls and mounds of horns.
“When She Comes” offers more of Cold Engines’ bracing rock and roll approach. Lead vocal swagger and assertive guitar chords roll on with self-assurance and verve. Both are engaging while the chorus is quite hooky and the rhythm section keeps it full of bopping action.
The catchiest song on this outing is “Alibi.’ With hit single written all over it, the song lurches forward with a 1970’s punk rock energy and simplicity. Harmony vocals sweeten its infectious chorus and the number lodges itself in one’s consciousness like something that suggests it’s going to be a big thing in the year to come. Its backbeat will jumpstart a bunch of people to get to their feet. It is anthem, attitude, and just plain fun all wrapped in one rocking number.
“Leave But Stay” is an elusive song. It glides by the ears with no distinct features to mark it by. Yet, it’s a song that sounds good as it progresses through its multiple facets of mellow, easygoing expressions. It simply offers a well spring of smooth vocals, gentle guitar work, and an unobtrusive rhythm section. You’ll like this one, even if you can’t quite define what it is that pulls you in.
“Never Was” is a drum smacking, low end pumping, keyboard driven joy ride. Its engaging vocal goes into a dreamscape of keyboard tinkling while the voice remains just weird enough to keep one listening. This number is action packed, with a very exciting sound that moves it down the rails swiftly when it shifts into top speed. It’s flinty guitar picking contrast brightly with the washy sound that makes this song feel like its gaining on the next race car on the tracks. The vocals goes from soft croon to a guttural belt, and that description is only a slight glimpse into all that is going on here.
Cold Engines closes out with “Do Me Wrong,” a mostly solo acoustic guitar number accompanied by backing vocals on the chorus and a forlorn keyboard melody in the backdrop. It’s a heartfelt tune that fills its space well with a unique vocal timbre.
Cold Engines is a group of folks with a sound all its own that could go places. This new Day Drinker album should make for a good calling card to get them into some nice rooms and to pile up positive reviews.
