Boy With No Name, The - Travis

"The Boy With No Name" is the fifth album from blue-eyed boy Fran Healey and his cohorts. Scottish and proud, Travis have become an institution with their brand of mellow-indie pop, piano accompanied soulful ballads and deep and meaningful, often soul-rending lyrics. Nowadays a mainstage festival head-line without Travis would be like you or I without a limb. They've become a much-loved and inspirational pillar in the structure of popular ...
...since their last release, The Boy With No Name is the first studio album since "12 Memories". Its been a long time coming and yet, the release of the first single from the new album, "Closer" is already weaving it's way up the charts.

"The Boy With No Name"

Having loved the sound of Travis ever since I first heard them in 97/98 (I was still a schoolgirl at the time!) I'd initially thought ... more

"The Boy With No Name" is the fifth album from blue-eyed boy Fran Healey and his cohorts. Scottish and proud, Travis have become an institution with their brand of mellow-indie pop, piano accompanied soulful ballads and deep and meaningful, often soul-rending lyrics. Nowadays a mainstage festival head-line without Travis would be like you or I without a limb. They've become a much-loved and inspirational pillar in the structure of popular British Music.

Travis: A Quick Lowdown:

Travis formed in 1991 during Healey's Uni years, and spent much of their musical youth touring Glasgow and eventually signed a £100,000 deal with Andy MacDonald, owner of Go! Discs Records. I've since found out on Travis' current online biography that Andy MacDonald actually fronted his own money to sign the band to himself and not his record company (which is now under Sony).
The result of the signing was Travis' first album "Good Feeling" in 1997, and the subsequent release of the known single "Tied to the 90's". The album was heralded a success, and was far more up-tempo than the subsequent further four albums, but it paved the way for Travis' recognition as a home-grown indie band.

"The Man Who" heralded a turning point in the bands success rate when released in 1999. The release of the single "Why Does It Always Rain On Me" led to the album becoming one of the most acclaimed of the 90's. Subsequent singles "Driftwood" and "Turn" additionally led to international recognition and the band becoming a main attraction on the festival circuit. The UK's turn from pop to indie over this period was helped by the success of Travis and indie music making a come-back,

"The Invisible Band" perhaps a direct reference to the grounded persona of the band, brought one of Travis' second most successful songs to light,. "Sing" released off the back of the albums' release, was the most played song on radio in the summer of 2001.

"12 Memories" released after the band had taken a step back from the limelight, the sound was infinitely fresher than the last album, with hints of more up-beat styles and influences. Their most successful single from the album propelled it to No. 3 in the UK charts and re-instated the band after their absence, due to band-member Neil Primrose having been injured and almost killed in a freak swimming pool accident.

"Singles" was released in 2004 following heavy touring both nationally and internationally, and Travis once more found the world at their feet. Although the band have been touring since their last release, The Boy With No Name is the first studio album since "12 Memories". Its been a long time coming and yet, the release of the first single from the new album, "Closer" is already weaving it's way up the charts.

"The Boy With No Name"

Having loved the sound of Travis ever since I first heard them in 97/98 (I was still a schoolgirl at the time!) I'd initially thought they had dropped off the radar in terms of making a come-back with a new album. I don't follow them closely in terms of current activities or anything, but I had read they were touring and there was some news of them appearing at several festivals.
"The Boy With No Name" has definitely been musical art in the making, which is perhaps why it seems so long that we've had to wait for anything new from the band. The album again, is like nothing Travis have ever really done before. The band seemed to reach musical maturity with their second album, and everything since has been about rejuvenation and refinement in terms of their sound.

Album Track Overview:

"Closer" Fran Healey's vocals are unmistakable on this track, and it was this single that led me to purchase the album in it's entirety. With it's accoustic guitar and vocals being soulful and as ever, the track is quite emotive. Healey has a way with words, both in the writing of lyrics and in his delivery. Closer is the type of song that couples might use to endear one to another. Everyone has a "song" and although the song can be interpreted in a variety of ways, my reckoning is it will be one of those coupley songs that stick around for donkeys!

"3 Times And You Lose" is a fantastic opening track to the album. I love the accoustic guitar melody and the soft vocals, the song seems to tell a story. It's quite distinctive but also hints of the old single "Turn" from the album "The Man Who".

"Big Chair" An interesting one, it's semi-upbeat for Travis with a constant string bass line and keyboard accompaniement, and Travis seem to love including a bit of string accoustic to their songs. Chris Martyn of Coldplay fame covered the song on Radio 1's Live Lounge in Jan 2006.

"Eyes Wide Open" a rocky inclusion for Travis, some great electric guitar in this track, and the harmonising on the chorus build it up to be an enjoyable indie experience from the band.

"Colder" an infusion of cymbals and a slow to mediocre beat, the vocalisations on the song are most notable, as is the piano and harmonica bridge. Second single maybe?

"New Amsterdam" has a country twang, it's quite a folky kinda song, and fits in with the chilled out vibe of the album. Listen out for the strange rain and bird sounds 1.35 of the way through. Travis, experimenting? Understatement. Bit weird actually! It's like the song is arranged to be a deliberate pretty happy, collective of sounds, fused into something with lyrics that should mean something. Hmmm! Th only weak track I reckon!

"Perfect Heaven Space" has a really nice piano intro and then turns into something reminiscent of Radiohead. Not a bad thing!

Overall the album is anticipatingly great! Kinda perfect for a lazy summer evening sitting in the garden chilling out and watching the sun go down. You could actualy close your eyes and imagine being at a festival with Travis playing some of their new tracks, you would be so mellowed out. People describe Travis as quite depressingly samey and yet if you sat and listened to an album like this you'd realise neither the music nor the lyrics are depressive at all. More chilled out indie I'd say! Well I love the album and "Heavenspace" is the best closing track, I'm eagerly awaiting the tour and the summer festivals, just for the atmosphere you get when you see this band live! 

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