The third release from Hard-Fi's second album Once Upon A Time In The West is a shiny, shifting, indie anthem, scored with sharp shots of guitar and a powerful and heavy soul supported by massive orchestration of strings.
Indeed it is Richard Archer and Wolsey White's mesh of styles that make this so sumptuous and enjoyable. Archer's distinctive vocals graze atop the warm cushioning of a gospel choir, sexy punctuations of funky brass herald a mild retro vibe, a violin section provides subtle nuances, even an organ is scintillating and provides a prophetic atmosphere. It is even possible that way in the background someone is playing a kitchen sink to drive home the song's core message.
That message is one of resistance and hope, pilfering inspiration from the American civil rights movement anthem We Shall Overcome. Not a little lofty when applied by a London graduate who had to escape Staines for show business but it remains a deeply personal song. Hard-Fi really don't need to seek reassurance - with this opus, they will continue to rise.
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