Try, try again
26 Feb 2000

The value in songwriting terms of the breathing space between Regulars gigs has been proven again this month with the surprise emergence of another song. This one, though, comes not from the scuffed radiance of Pete's fickle muse nor the infinite shimmering dimensions of Chopper's inapprehensible mind, but straight out of the recycling bin.

The 'new' tune is called Try - but last year it made two or three appearances in a past life as You'll never know unless you try. One was at a Dirty Dick's acoustic session in September, where it worked well enough, but the Regs felt that their somewhat leaden full-band version never really carried the light and sparkle of the newborn rendition heard on Chopper's 1999 songwriting tape Songs in the Key of Chop.

After several vocal arrangements and various attempted rewrites of the chorus, the band decided to use February's inter-gig break to strip down the song and begin a new arrangement from scratch. This work is now complete.

Paul has added guitar patterns of exquisite delicacy for a man who spent his formative years sulking to grunge tracks. Chris has combined a series of rhythms that both deepen the mood and complement Chopper's hypnotic new strumming patterns beautifully. Stu does some more backing vocals in a strange American accent. Pete just shouted at them all until they got it right.

The result is a compellingly plaintive and delicious slice of dreamy indie pop that Pete reckons sounds like "a more focused version of Moose, with better tunes". Hmmm.

You'll be able to hear Try for yourself at the Flapper gig on Saturday 11 March. See if you agree.

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