On
Wammo,
Bailter Space find themselves in that uncomfortable place where what was once fresh and inspiring now starts to feel a little more repetitious and a little less special. By no means is the album a washout, but striking new fusions and changes don't leap to the fore as frequently as they used to. When they do emerge, they're quite welcome, but not as striking as they could be; for example, Parker's high-register singing on "Splat" is quite catchy in the verses, but the song itself isn't as special as the group's earlier work. If anything,
Bailter Space are starting to sound more like a "normal" rock band. They're a good one, to be sure, but the slight retreat from the complexity and studio effects of earlier records makes them a bit less distinct as a result, as does the newfound clarity in Parker's vocals. However, if the intent was to capture the strengths of the group with a more live sound, then the result is success. "At Five We Drive" is another great
Bailter brawler, with some especially fine work by McLachlan on drums. McLachlan's motorik-inspired work flows as always on songs like "Colours" (Parker's edgy guitar feedback and spikes are equally fine here) and the similar "D Thing," which helps close
Wammo on a high note. If nothing else, the group still have an unerring knack for choosing singles: "Retro" features some of Parker's all-time best sociopolitical lyrics. ~ Ned Raggett