And there goes another year in the history of The Wave Pictures. There's been little bits of info in recent months but nothing I thought was worth a whole post about, particularly as this fan blog does such a good job of highlighting the minutiae of the band:
http://fuckyeahthewavepictures.tumblr.com/
Meanwhile, it seems to an outsider that they've been on tour almost constantly during the year. As I hear this is how modern bands earn money, this is great. As I know this is how modern bands don't get around to recording new material, I'm conflicted. HOWEVER, in this recent interview:
http://hellogoodbyeshow.com/2012/12/05/listen-again-hello-goodbye-01-12-12-dead-rat-orchestra-david-tattersall-halo-halo/
D. Tattersall says they are recording as we speak and we should expect new material in the late summer. I seem to be interested in
how they record as much as the results of the recording nowadays. Whilst, in my opinion, Beer In The Breakers sounded much better than Long Black Cars, I really enjoyed the few overdubs which they allowed themselves on this newer record - the title track in particular sounding terrific with the extra guitar line. With their friends Allo Darlin making more and more sophisticated sounding records it would be great to hear the WP's going back into the studio and allowing their imaginations to run beyond the parameters of the 3-piece set up. Time will tell.
As for the live arena, I've seen them a number of times this year and I honestly think they're getting better and better. I can't think of a tighter band at the moment and gigs I've been to have been better attended than previously making me think the word-of-mouth process which their success depends on may actually reward them in the long run.
I'm going to try and finish my documentation of their records in the coming months. In some ways, my initial reason for starting the website has been satiated - I just wanted to shout from the rooftops about a band which were seemingly ignored. Whilst I still think "the kids" would love them if they heard them, it seems like the band have settled into their place in the musical landscape - a sustainable if relatively thankless existence. But, maybe that's enough?
