It’s that time yet again for Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps, who are releasing “Wrecking Ball” as their latest single. The track starts with a jolt, a burst of lively drums, enough to wake one and prime them for what comes next. Grabbing from the get-go, the groove of the song wraps whoever is listening right from the very first moment in its energetic embrace while a bluesy attitude in the vocal weaves the tale.
To the primal rock charged “California Smile,” Tom Tikka offers the feel good vibes as “Wrecking Ball,” from his forthcoming album. This time, Tikka takes a stroll back in time, joining forces with two of his bandmates from Carmen Gray, an old Sony-BMG joint, in a blending of the past with something fresh. “It’s a cool song, very ‘Carmen Gray,'” Tikka says. “I decided to call up a couple of my other Carmen Gray members. I called the lead guitar player Lappe and lead singer Nicklas. I suggested we get together for ‘Wrecking Ball.’ They thought it was a cool idea!”
And what a great brain wave it was. The combination produces a track that feels equally new as it is pleasingly familiar. The vocals of Nicklas Nyman are strong and expressive, bringing this willful nature into his voice. The lead guitar work from Lauri “Lappe” Holopainen is just brilliant, with great complexity and rawness that take the song to the next level.
Of course, the guitars and vocals are in the hands of Tikka himself, adding his uniqueness to the sound. He also lays down the bass lines in which the song is driven. The backbone of ‘Wrecking Ball” is its drumming by Janne Saksa, who also produced the track, fattening it up with a really danceable rhythm that is so hard to resist. Exemplary rock and blues fusion, the Wrecking Ball is full of dynamic instrumentation and spirited performances that run from start to finish. It is the kind of record that opens itself up to you more with every listen. Maybe it’s that little guitar, just digging where you hadn’t noticed before, or that vocal inflection, nailing it just so, but the obvious synergy present between Tikka and his bandmates forms a track that is as enjoyable to listen to by the listener.
Go ahead and crank this one, let it seep into your bones, and get ready for “Wrecking Ball” to take names. Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps have delivered a single recorded with the aim of leaving an impression and ensuring their place in the hearts of rock ‘n’ blues fans across the globe.
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You can listen to ‘Wrecking Ball’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.