Trookers are a guitar-based melodic pop four-piece from Shetland who are a stand apart act on the current scene. They began as a duo, writing together towards the end of 2012 and after putting together a fair whack of material they decided it was time to put some of it on show at the local singer/songwriter night in Mareel. Little did they know that their persistent performing, and opportunities such as opening at the Oxjam festival in Lerwick was just the start of great things. They later added their bass player and drummer and had their debut as a foursome performing once again at Oxjam in Lerwick. The guys began releasing singles in 2016 after spending many a minute recording in 2015. ‘The Temporary’, the namesake of this album was released in 2017.
And that’s exactly how the album opens. A cheery wee number. It has a bit of a honky tonk piano feel, meshed together with something pretty polished, which almost sounds like a bit of an oxymoron but trust me it works. The vibe is pretty funky, a kind of nonchalant attitude in the lyrics and a set of vocals that leave a memorable imprint in my mind: both utterly enchanting and magically unforgiving.
The wickedly named ‘Minute Steak’ is up next. It has a bit of a beach boy, surfer rock, bring me some sun and shades STAT kind of feel. So unbelievably uplifting. The picking intro on guitar is no copycat of anything I’ve ever heard before. Harmonising away like utter pros, their style feels effortless. The fit of these four together as musicians is mind-blowing.
‘Birds’ is more of a slowdown and listen kind of track. A sweet little single line support on some kind of ukulele or guitar opens with the vocals, which sound like they are made to be together in their sweet harmonious team effort. This grows, adding layers of instruments, to bring something inherently folky and Shetland born. I can feel the Scottish in my heart pining as this track blossoms into its full self.
‘My heart, Your Heart’ is a return to more of the same as the first, but with a more melancholic tone. Rolling drum lead ins and bouncy beats create a plodding along and contemplation type atmosphere. Whereas in complete contrast, ‘Old Town’ is a hard charging, I’m coming at you with heart and soul tune. A sense of raucous revelry, it’s still in keeping with that insatiable energy of the rest of the tracks but ever so much more optimistic. “We like sitting at the back with a tin and gin” is a line to remember, who can beat the poetic combination of something only recognisable to the Scottish ear like this, paired with stop and go pacing, at one point slow and soft, the next absolutely racing.
‘Demon’ brings a slight change up with an introspective account of how it feels when you hold up a mirror to yourself and find the truth. Music like this is truth, and sometimes we just need to hear it. ‘Seashells’ has a sweeter tone, a chilling kind of emotional blanket. That thing that songs do where they grow from sadness to hope in waves continuously, pulling your mind in all directions and landing you at a somehow full heart at the end. The subtle strokes on guitar are charming whilst the bendy solo slides on the electric sit in a neat contrast. It made me want to go sit “on a cold and frosty morn counting seashells on our beach” that’s for sure.
But then we turn around a tempo corner and right into the thick of it with ‘Hand Grenade’. Not quite as violent as it sounds but certainly flies through your mind, from the bass feature that opens the tune to the catchy harmonies on “too late”, it’s a hook filled song that brings out the best in all of the guy’s talents. Staying true to their unique sound, but it’s like a perfect combination and balance between all elements of their abilities that form a oneness quite beyond anticipation, and limitations, of musical expectation.
‘Out My Head’ has an almost underwater sound. A blurred line between the surface of happiness and internal knowing. You can’t help but feel connected to each of these tunes. They are inherently winners, yet modestly understated: the best pairing for musical likeability. The penultimate track is ‘Maybe’ another contemplative kind of song. There’s talk of sunsets and other warm feelings of comfort. That sliding guitar melodic feature raises its head once more, which is combined with a very minimal acoustic strum and this all happens underneath some winning vocals.
Finishing on a high, although I’m not sure I can recount any real lows, ‘Sister Sister’ is another unapologetic and punchy number. The chorus is charged with oomphy, striking syncopations that stand out from the rest of the track. It’s an unexpected shift from the verse but a very, very welcome one. This album is available via www.trookers.co.uk, Bandcamp or through the usual digital platforms like iTunes. It's also on Spotify too, and you can buy the CD at shops around Shetland and at Grooves in Orkney.
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