Two Steps At A Time. Railcard

The second song on Two Steps At A Time is called '1962 Forever'. Although the music on the album is not 1962, it is so close I'll allow it. Not much later songs by acts like The Seekers, Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black would conquer the U.K. and beyond. All somewhere behind The Beatles who surfed the highest wave and towed dozens in their wake.

Railcard presents itself as a band full of nostalgic feelings for an era of innocence that lies extremely far behind us. The years just before the sexual revolution, the hippies, the student revolts.The years that the world had just lived through the Cuba crisis and lived to tell. The years of one coal or gas heater for the whole home, ice flowers on the windows and cold, damp sheets in winter.

Railcard plays songs that sparkle, are full of optimism. "I know that nothing will happen, as long as we are together, the road will go on forever, you and me" (from 'Hillman Minx'). Optimism as if the singers are 20, while in reality, people roughly my age have learned the hard way it does not go on forever. What better way to live is there, to live as if the road will go on forever? Even if we do know better. Immediately, 'Flanelette' starts with this beautifully sounding trumpet, keeping that optimistic feeling totally alive.

Railcard is a new band. It formed only in 2025 when Rachel Love (Dolly Mixture), Ian Button and Peter Momtchiloff (Heavenly) met at a gig. They found to be the exact same age and decided that was reason enough to form a band. Later Allison Thomson (Trash Can Sinatras, The Love Band) joined and added her trumpet and keyboards. In 2026 three EPs were released that were collected into one album. The link with the band Heavenly, made the choice for a record label a logical one, Skep Wax.

Promo photo

Railcard does not only work from nostalgic feelings but also brings a pop feel that makes the songs come alive. Listen how the band uses the riff from The Kinks' 'Tired Of Waiting' and turns that into its own soft banger 'I'm A Disaster'. I simply love the song so much. The more uptempo 'Unstable Neighbour' has the same effect on me. The intricate parts that move in and out of the song. The trumpet sound reminds me of my favourite Soft Cell song 'Torch'. The vocals that come from all sides. It makes for a very special song.

Love and Button's vocals adorn all the songs with the other two adding background vocals in all appropriate parts. You can hear that they are no longer young, but the honesty and love for the songs they created together shines through for the whole of the way. And Rachel Love's voice is one I can listen to for quite some time.

Railcard is a band that was not in the cards of anyone involved. A chance meeting created an opportunity and here we are. Two Steps At A Time, a very appropriate title for an album that was created so fast, is a joy to listen to. 

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Two Steps At A Time here:

https://railcardband.bandcamp.com/album/two-steps-at-a-time