Review: Raintown

The Country scene has changed a great deal in the five years since Raintown unveiled their multi-award winning debut album Hope In Troubled Times some five years ago. With The Shires and Ward Thomas helping to drive the British country sound into the mainstream, the competition will have no doubt meant that the Scottish duo considered
their position carefully ahead of the release of their Pledge funded sophomore effort Writing On The Wall.

With a more 'authentic' sound than The Shires, Raintown are much less folk-pop and much more new country than Britain's current biggest country export. While this may mean that the duo are far more easily boxed into their genre, it does also mean that they will not be accused of chasing the current sound to bolster their popularity. Instead they stay true to the sound that saw them soar in the first place, simply adding better production values and a more radio friendly songwriting style to their mix.

The biggest mistake Raintown make is dividing their vocals. Claire Bain is without any hesitation of doubt one of the finest female vocalists the UK has currently, it is just a shame that the same can't be said of her husband Paul, who would have been better placed as a harmonizing backing vocalist.

Although they should have better considered vocal responsibilities, it is impossible to deny that the pair are more than capable of writing catchy radio hits that should, if there is any justice, join the likes of The Shires, Ward Thomas and Jess and the Bandits on the Radio 2 playlist. Notable highlights are the well-selected single If This Was A Love Song, the pretty Missing You and loveable Nineteen Again.

At the other end of the spectrum are the chug-along Right Here With Me and laughter inducing Shut The Front Door, both of which would have been better omitted from the final tracklist.

With Writing On The Wall the duo prove that they are not be considered competition for either Ward Thomas or The Shires, let alone any of the other British country acts currently making headway. Raintown are very much their own act with their own sound and their own pocket in the industry. Writing On The Wall builds on their debut and, bar a couple of minor hick-ups, is a rather lovely recording.