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Jan 24, 2019 Web Exclusive By Jordan J. Michael

Pressing shuffle and landing on Blood Red Shoes is equivalent to taking a shot of whiskey. You may think that you didn’t need it, but turns out you did. Steven Ansel’s drums bang out heavy rhythms, Laura Mary-Carter’s guitar cleaves, and both members sing. New album Get Tragic (coming after a five-year gap) is royal. It was made on the coattails of an exhaustive collapse caused by four LPs and relentless touring over six years. Before Get Tragic, the UK duo broke up—Mary-Carter moved to Los Angeles, trying to pitch songs to Rihanna; Ansel said that he did drugs for half-a-year. Mary-Carter had these thoughts: “small hits of validation and the feeling of having all eyes on you have become our generations biggest drug problem.”

Blood Red Shoes had to reinvent itself (Mary-Carter started playing around with keyboards following a broken arm); luckily, some ripping guitar solos remain for the band. When a rock group looks to electronics and dance moves, it could turn out bad (ask Muse), but it worked out for Blood Red Shoes. If the 49-second album interlude spikes interest, imagine what the other 10 tracks provide? Blood Red Shoes’ new laser life is murky and flirtatious in succession. Get Tragic hammers with smooth menace on “Nearer” (feat. The Wytches),” chugs alongside a bongo drum (“Mexican Dress”), and on “Anxiety” throws Jack White guitar work at us for good measure.

If you’ll allow it, fall into Ansel’s banging rack tom, get possessed by Mary-Carter’s dark guitar, or try to figure which member is going to sing first. It’s Blood Red Shoes’ musical world and it’ll grab you. (www.bloodredshoes.co.uk)

Author rating: 7.5/10