Stormy Mondays is a long standing folk-rock band from Spain, having played Woodstock ’99 and even have had their music played in space. They have recently released a double EP set. Wading The River is the first disc, and The Lay Of The Land the other. Although there isn’t strictly a concept shared between the two, stylistically each EP embodies different facets of the band.
I hesitate to call this “twee,” but there is undeniably a Belle & Sebastian sense of delicacy on songs like “Love and Fire.” Elsewhere, there’s a strong power pop sensibility on “Struck By Life,” that sounds like Dwight Twilley covering Bruce Springsteen. However, Wading The River is undeniably the beefier of the two; The Lay of the Land is more folk-driven.
If there is a theme driving Wading The River, it can possibly be said to simply be a love of rock and roll music as embodied most plainly and purely on “One Note.” The EP plays like a celebration of their favorite bands and songs. Listening to a single track will call to mind a million different moments from classic pop history. Wading The River is an engaging and immersive addition to Stormy Mondays’ discography for any fan.
