Ugh, the “Musical Collective”. A term that makes me want to punch my own face to a bloody pulp rather than subject valuable brain matter to the sound of some disparate octoquartet, sickeningly proficient in a multitude of musical disciplines. Happily, Crack Cloud are one of a handful of bands in that execrable category who’ve had me eating my own prejudice since their inception.

That shining accolade apart, Red Mile is the latest album from the Calgary band – following on from the roundly marvellous Pain Olympics in 2020 and 2022’s Tough Baby – and sees founding frontman Zach Choy (drums / vocals) and brother William (guitar) changing tack and pulling the ripcord on the jagged Gang of Four outline that had served them so well.

In its place we have a work that seems undecided as to what it wants to be; introspective at its centre and drifting between the anthemic and the bathetic. ‘The Medium’ flatters to deceive with its mawkish stadium synth and cock-rock guitar and ‘Epitaph‘ seems directionless – I guess it could pass muster as an Arcade Fire B-side. Sure, Choy’s brattish, yob-vocal is still there but it sounds more tired than truculent, and many of the bigger wins are provided by Emma Acs and Eve Adams, whose voices lend a guileful opulence to these songs.

Flashes of Crack Cloud’s true personality, however fleeting, still have the capability to kick up a stink. Recent single ‘Blue Kite’, along with its skydiving promo video, jumps off at high altitude with a slew of staccato strings strapped to the back of Aleem Khan’s crungeing bassline. ‘I Am (I Was)’ sounds like an ’80s charity single supporting a Joe Strummer marathon attempt – plus added cowbell. I am absolutely here for that kinda noise.

An album that’s neither in terminal velocity or terminal decline, Red Mile might be the breather that Crack Cloud need to front up to whatever happens next. Let’s pray for a perfect landing.