REVIEW: Whiteout Bite It / Young Tribe Rule

Whiteout were once darlings of the music press and record labels, not only in the UK but further afield, touring with the likes of Dodgy and Oasis, releasing sun kissed singles which were lapped up by audiences and critics alike, appearing across TV networks on prime time shows such as The Word and The Beat, the band have not been forgotten by their fans and as would it appear those knowledgeable kind people at Demon Music Group who have re-released the bands stellar debut album Bite It plus a previously Japanese only release Young Tribe Rule both on vinyl, the latter for the first time, plus on digital streaming services.

Bite It is a classic guitar, folk, rock and roll album in the same vein as Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque, Free Highway and The Faces First Step. Whiteout were in the classic mould of The Small Faces in terms of looks, shoulder length bob haircuts, Levi denim and sought after t-shirts indie kids nowadays would sell their right leg for. In terms of sound it’s often baffling how Whiteout didn’t make it and the likes of Oasis did, what with stone cold classic tracks as; the single No Time with it’s lyric ‘no time to think for tomorrow, I’ve got to live for today’ which can be adapted to our time and is a real go and get ‘em up beat track, We Should Stick Together is another prime slice of guitar pop juiciness.

Second singles Jackie’s Racing gallops and skips to a youthful jubilant beat, Shine On You glitters and shimmers like a glitter ball on a psychedelic dancefloor, You Left Me Seeing Stars is their version of Love Lives Here, delicate and beautiful, as is the closing track simply entitled Untitled. I read on a online forum that someone once used this track as the first dance at their wedding, hearing this afresh it’s little surprise such a song of rare delicate quality was used in such a sacred moment.

Young Tribe Rule has further delights gushing throughout. A mixture of b-sides and rarities; Sleep Talking has a John Martyn Bless The Weather folk feel, Bright Shining Lie has those sun kissed harmonies the band were famed for swathing the song into a flute guided triumph; Rocks Off, cover of the well known Rolling Stones rock ‘n’ roll bash fits the bill just fine with Get Me Through sounding like a prime Ronnie Lane solo effort, this collection befits a band at the top of their game.

Both releases have been long on the wish list for fans who have been lapping up the magnifying glass being focused on the Greenock 4 piece. A very much welcome reintroduction to Whiteout.

Both releases can be purchased at the following link