Music For Horses. The Rupert Selection

Less is more is a saying that totally passed the members of The Rupert Selection by. Once the very quiet intro to Music For Horses of 1 minute, 'Hello Horses' is over, the band kicks in and it only seems to go from big to bigger to biggest and at times even beyond that. Hugest is a word that may come close. The Rupert Selection fabricates a wall of sound that becomes impenetrable. It's so huge that my ears pop like when going to a higher altitude.

It is all interspersed with soundscapes and spoken word parts, like Pink Floyd used to lift texts from movies or tv shows, and interludes. Sometimes it goes through the whole of song, this mechanic muttering in the background. 

To think that The Rupert Selection is a trio. There's no way of telling because there is so much happening on Music For Horses. Guitar layers, a huge Hammond organ, horns. The band combines the sound of some of the bigger bands that emerged in 1969 like Blood, Sweat and Tears and Chicago Transit Authority, mix it with garage rock, psychedelic blues  and some symphonic rock from the 70s and later. It all blends into a huge melting pot but really, really reveals itself in 'Devil's Dance', in part a quieter song at that.

The Rupert Selection is Reilly Somach, Peter Crofton, Zak Brown, respectively singer/guitarist, bassist, drummer, but only as their principle instruments. It only starts there for them. They were assisted by producer Steve Lord and a host of other musicians.

In a way I do get the impression that The Rupert Selection wanted to show off everything it is capable of. And at times it does become too much. But never without taste and conviction. When I then read that singer-guitarist Reilly Somach is diagnosed with that awful disease I hear far too many people having this year, it seems that it had to be this way. Everything The Rupert Selection stands for balled into one album. I hope Reilly Somach makes a full recovery, but should this be a goodbye, he could not have wished for a more impressive one. Music For Horses is for horses and all of us. Strength and courage, Reilly!

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Music For Horses here:

https://therupertselection.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-horses