England's
Boyracer eloquently recorded their fuzzy indie pop on 1995's
We Are Made of the Same Wood. The disc was recorded soon after the band's first visit to the United States, and the result was a collection of ten brief -- yet powerful -- songs. It was also the
Boyracer debut of drummer Ged Megurn. Guitarist/vocalist Stewart Anderson, guitarist Matty Green, and bassist Nicola Hodgkinson rounded out the quartet. The disc's first four tracks showcase the quartet's punky style of indie pop. "Finger Pie" is a synthesizer-based instrumental, while "Bring Me the Hair of Phil Oakley" is a subdued instrumental serving as a sort of musical intermission in the middle of the disc. Things again slow down on the tenth track, "In Love With These Times." The band's rollicking and energized brand of pop-punk returns with "Your Dark Secrets." The disc ends with the laid-back beats of "Serious Teeth." The band's knack for combining exciting and refreshing indie pop with the occasional toned-down melody was a surprising mix with their noise experiments. The band's sound was influential, taking pop sensibilities from
the Wedding Present (who were also from their hometown of Leeds, England) and adding their own experimental tendencies. Most of the album was recorded with producer Tim Rippinton in January 1995 at Southside Studios. California's Slumberland Records co-released the disc with Germany's A Turntable Friend Records in late 1995. ~ Stephen Cramer