Here comes a second set of originals from renowned diggers and collectors Wrekin Havoc. A creative crew of Midlands DJs, and now producers, who are respected for their knowledge, and much loved for their big bags of bonhomie. 

For these 2 new tracks they recruit guest singer, Greg Bird, of Flamingo Flame fame. Greg’s sweet, sometimes fragile and anguished vocals situate themselves somewhere between Andy Bell of Erasure and Sean Phillips of Private Agenda, and grace both Vapour Trails and Broken Wings. The overall mood is proto-house-flavoured synth pop – a kinda Icehouse meets When In Rome vibe. Taking the baton, perhaps, from 1990s Balearic Network bods, such as The Tyrrell Corporation, while even older folks – like me – might also get flashbacks to Julian Jonah’s Jealousy & Lies. The production is all ace `80s drum programming and moody bass lines. Sharp, sorta electro / freestyle synths cutting these machined patterns, while countering rising cinematic swells. 

Vapour Trails seems to mix the sentiments of Matthew Broderick’s famous Ferris Bueller speech with an aching, ecological lament. The message I was getting was “Stop and take a look around… before it’s all gone.” Gold Suite’s remix flies the slightly melancholic fella over to the sunny Mediterranean, adding a live rumba b-line and Spanish strumming. Broken Wings is a bit more banging, with slamming snares and acidic squiggles. Greg’s wistful and romantic, but it’s not a Mr. Mister cover. Cool Californian dude Woolfy strips his rework back to something sleeker and smoother. 

Wrekin Havoc’s Vapour Trails is out soon on Is It Balearic? You can order a copy from Juno. 

You can also catch Wrekin Havoc strutting their DJ stuff at Rotation Soundsystem’s 11th Annual Garden Party. You can purchase tickets here.