For many of us, we cannot think of early 80s British post-punk/gothic, without including Leeds band, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (RLYL). They were an amazing juggernaut, with other key bands such as Sisters of Mercy and The March Violets, giving us dark, guitar driven songs of nihilism from an era that was seeing a great deal of social upheaval, and also a music scene spewing forth a slew of new styles. Something Lorries fans having been holding out for was another studio album. We knew there was one in the wings, but no one, including the band, knew if it was going to see the light of day, having been recorded ten years ago. Not only is that album, Some Kind of Paradise, due for release, there is also the bonus of an EP Driving Black, that is out in December. However, for now, the first single has been dropped, which is also called “Driving Black (Ding’s Remix)“. It has been thirty-three years since the last Red Lorry Yellow Lorry single and all this goodness is being brought to you via COP International.
Chris Reed’s vocals are unmistakable with that biting edge of venom matched with near derision, that brokers no arguments, for it is what it is. The percussion is savage between the drums (Martin Henderson) and bass (Simon Archer), that sets the stage for the driving guitars of Reed and David Wolfenden.
The Ding is Simon ‘Ding’ Archer, music bassist for RLYL as well as being a music producer in his own right. There is a coarseness that grates over your skin with “Driving Black,” as it is with most music in the past from The Lorries. I think this is due to the fact that the song is so real.. as in you feel it in your bones and it resonates in your head, becoming another integral piece of fabric in memories, because it is a great and gritty rock song. It isn’t long now for those of us who have loved Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and I am beyond excited knowing that the journey isn’t quite over yet.
Driving Black | Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (bandcamp.com)
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