As we approach ‘No Worse For Wear’, it’s instantly evident that we are not dealing with your run-of-the-mill indie group. Of course, melodies and themes are still very relatable, and the aural matter familiar. Perhaps it is the presence of a ukulele that throws us off… performed by Amsterdam-based Winchester 7, the curious instrument is supported by Phil Voorhees on bass and Jack Kane on drums, here known as the Runners. ‘No Worse for Wear’ is their latest EP.
Let’s get to the project’s main selling point, that being the inclusion of a ukulele in an otherwise rather standard rock trio formula. Winchester 7 & the Runners do a good job of hiding it, in a way, as everything is fuzzy to the right amount. That said, there is a constant sense of quirkiness in the EP, so much so that it even veers into psychedelic territories at times, a fitting counterpoint to the more obvious surf rock influences.
Delving deeper into the creative ethos that propels the project, the group explains: “Indie Ukulele Rock, by definition, is intended to be fun. We’re here to be part of that.” We feel as though labelling Winchester 7 & the Runner as ‘fun’ might be a tad reductive of their legitimate inventive musicianship; they built something different, something that’s rooted in the rock tradition but that gradually shifts into an alternative universe.
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