The Rumble Strips - Welcome To The Walk Alone

In Charlie's own words, ""When we started out I liked the ridiculousness of a small group with acoustic instruments defiantly playing as if we sounded like an orchestra - we were like a team of arctic explorers in t-shirts and normal shoes joyfully pressing on. But this time, we needed to think bigger."

The Rumble Strips release their second album Welcome to The Walk Alone through Island Records, available from July 13th 2009. Produced by Mark Ronson, Welcome to The Walk Alone is the extraordinary follow up to the band's critically acclaimed 2007 debut, Girls and Weather. Having recruiting life-long friend Sam Mansbridge as their permanent bass player, The Rumble Strips has swelled to a five piece.

Recalling the widescreen sounds of Phil Spector and Scott Walker, coupled with 1940's wartime melodies and early 1960s European soul (Sam also brought a love of French chanson music, introducing the band to Jacques Brel and Charles Asnavor), Welcome to The Walk Alone is a timeless record that sounds like nothing else released this year.

Their sophomore effort reflects how the band's song writing process has changed. Principally written on piano and guitar, this change in style has resulted in the new record featuring a lot more piano and electric guitar than on their debut, plus the addition of full orchestration. The expansive sound of the arrangements is equalled only by lead singer Charlie Waller's voice, which more than any other instrument defines this record and confirms his status as one of the best male vocalists in British music in 2009.
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