Reviews

Artist: The Wendy House
Album: Welcome
Label: Ruby Records
Tracks: 12
Rating: ***
Contact:Website www.welcometothewendyhouse.com

First things first, The Wendy House, is not a band, but the name for a collective of 6 bands/singers, currently consisting of Evan Crichton, The State Broadcasters, Vivien Scotson, Finniston, Attic Lights and The Boy Lacks Patience. "Welcome" is the first compilation album from the collective and each band gets two tracks. All hail from Scotland
The main criteria for selection appears to be an acoustic vein, with most tracks steering a folk and/or acoustic rock track. The participents move from solo artists, through duos into bands. The website, as well as supporting the artists also acts as a springhboard into the individual artists websites.
As with most compilation albums, the biggest problem is trying to find the most complimentary running order. It can be annoying to just get into a vibe only to have a very different one on the next cut, for the most part "Welcome" get's it right. A noteable exception being the switch from Finiston's "It Angers Me So" into "Version 2" by Evan Crichton. The main reason for that is that Finsiton click so well with the stripped back "Call Centre Blues" from The Boy Lacks Patience, but not so well with the more uptempo "Version 2".
Continuity is restored as the album moves into "Martin" from Attic Lights, who have the most rock/pop sound on the album. They are also the least Scottish sounding act on the album, but that might just be me. I get the impression the artists recorded their tracks separately and brought them along to the project, because there is a distinction in the quality of some of the recordings. Unless it's my copy, the State Broadcasters really should be looking to get some moneyback on "Takeshi" because it sounds like a worn record. Of course that could have been the intention, in which case it's just annoying.
As a calling card for each of the artists as individuals, it does a good job. There's not one artist on the compilation that lets the side down. You feel that everyone that took part in the recording has the talent and ability to deliver a full length album that would do them justice. "Call Centre Blues" is the track of the album for me, but for strength of consistency over the two songs, it's a close tie between Vivien Scotson and brother/sister duo Finniston. It's nice to see musicians working together for the greater good of each other as well as giving themselves another outlet for their material. "Welcome" is not only a good idea, it's a good record.

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