Rattlesnake Choir – Walkin’ The Wire

Band: Rattlesnake Choir
Album: Walkin’ The Wire

Toronto’s Rattlesnake Choir is set to release their sophomore album, Walkin’ The Wire, a follow up to their 2008 debut album Live Music. Rattlesnake Choir is fronted by John Borra, a veteran of the Toronto music scene (and beyond), along with guitarist Sam Ferrara, with ties to 1980s punk bands and much more. The rest of the band is rounded out by Tony Benattar (bass), Michael Boguski (piano, accordion) and Miranda Mulholland (violin).

Impressively, Walkin’ The Wire was recorded in just two days. It is also interesting to note that the album was recorded with tape, relying on old school technology. Considering the album was recorded live, the songs are also able to capture the moment. Right off the bat, this translates to the listener. The album opens with “Heart Full of Love,” a song that lyrically matches the vocals, as Borra’s voice conveys a sense of earnest. This vocal delivery is heard throughout the album.

Rattlesnake Choir may be Borra’s project, but he certainly shares the spotlight with the rest of the band. The harmonies from Mulholland throughout the album stand out, a lovely complement to Borra’s raw croon. She also takes the lead for “Halls of Folsom,” originally by Jenny Whiteley, while “Wastin’ My Time” features Ferrara on lead vocals. “Flight of the Bumble Bee” is all about Boguski, as it’s an instrumental tune with the piano as the focus.

The album is full of beautiful instrumentation, particularly from Mulholland on the fiddle, but the real gems of the album are the unique sounds heard when you really pay attention. For instance, the use of a saw in “Ghost Of The Rodeo” is quite fascinating, but matches the tone of the song perfectly. Rattlesnake Choir’s experience – decades worth – really show in the arrangements and overall feel of the album.

Walkin’ The Wire will be released on April 26th via Cousin Jeb Records, but Rattlesnake Choir will be throwing an album release party on April 21st at the Horseshoe Tavern. Highly recommended, but if you miss them then, you can regularly find them playing Monday nights at The Dakota Tavern.