Gained/Lost: Neon Pink Vinyl LP

Pre-Order Item. Release Date Subject to Change.
Label: Bella Union
Release Date: 27th February

Raw like 60 garage rock with the immediate tunes, the chops of Tom Petty doing The Byrds, the tangy rippers of Thin Lizzy and a 90s alt-rock America spirit. This is The Wave Pictures further proving they're master songcrafters, capable of flipping a pop tune inside out and after a few listens you're focused in on the turns of phrase, the nostalgic imagery and character portraits. Best thing I've heard from this band, really love this record. 

Classic songwriting, virtuosic musicianship and dream logic lyrics. The Wave
Pictures return with Gained/Lost, a record that brings together 60s garage
rock, 70s classic rock and 90s American indie with a DIY spirit that has
guided the band for nearly three decades
Across the album, David Tattersall (guitar and lead vocals), Franic Rozycki (bass), and
Jonny Helm (drums) capture the joy of playing together-- a chemistry that has
cemented their status as one of Britain's most enduring cult bands.
Tattersall's lyrics arrive like postcards from the space where memories fragment and
dreams fill the cracks--reflecting the self as a child, as an elder, and as an observer
from a neighbour's window. Lyrics float over the guitars and drums like figures in the
sky in a Chagall painting. The Wave Pictures always give the mundane its magical
due.
The front cover, created by Tattersall, is a tribute to Robert Frank's front cover for Exile
On Main Street. Images of childhood combine with recent photos of the band and
many other figures, from old horror movie posters to former footballers. Everything in
their world gets funneled into The Wave Pictures music.
The album opens with the Burroughs- inspired dreamscape of "Alice." ''Sure and
Steady'' is like Lou Reed if he'd grown up in the East Midlands. ''Past The House
Painted Blue'' is like a painting by Matisse. ''You're My Patient Now,'' a mixture of
Raymond Chandler and Link Wray. The songs themselves--full of poetry and joy--are
the album's defining strength.
Like its predecessor, Gained Lost was recorded by Jim Riley at Rochester's
Ranscombe Studios over seven days in early 2024. Riley, who has worked with the
band on multiple projects including Great Big Flamingo Burning Moon and Bamboo
Diner in the Rain, captures the Wave Pictures live and unfiltered--the way they prefer to
record. Throughout the album, David Tattersall's guitar playing is inventive, melodic,
emotional and virtuosic. His playing at times is as lyrical as Jerry Garcia, at others
spikey and spindley like Tom Verlaine, but always emotional and on point for the song.
No wonder Marc Riley describes David Tattersall as ''The greatest guitarist of his
generation.''
Gained/Lost sets a new standard: a distillation of spirit, craft, and joy.