It’s been nearly six years since we’ve heard from Sacred Paws, the UK guitar-and-drums duo consisting of Ray Aggs and Eilidh Rodgers. Following 2019’s Run Around the Sun, the duo were not particularly inspired by the COVID lockdowns. That may have had something to do with the London-based Aggs and the Glaswegian Rodgers preferring to work out their music in person. Rather than trying to find a new way to operate, the band waited until inspiration struck to get going again.
Jump Into Life is the result of that patience. It’s recognizably the same band: Rodgers’ hyperactive snare drum rolls punctuate Aggs’ always-in-motion Afrobeat-inspired guitar lines, and everything has a bright, sunny feel. Arrangement-wise, though, the duo add a lot of extras. Aggs’ basslines function entirely differently from her guitar work. She gives the tracks a steady, melodic grounding to complement the much busier guitars and drums.
The horns are back, as they were in scattered places on Run Around the Sun. This time, Sacred Paws also bring in some strings and synths to accentuate certain songs. Jump Into Life often sounds like the work of an accomplished eight or nine-piece band, but Aggs and Rodgers remain at the core of every song.
“Save Something” opens the record with a warm string introduction, before Aggs’ guitar enters with a low, warm melody. Rodgers shows up shortly afterwards, steadily thumping on her kick drum and hi-hat while throwing in snare rolls all over the place. Aggs’ rich alto singing voice is joined by Rodgers on high harmonies throughout the verses, while the strings continue to play long and slow in the background. In lieu of a guitar solo, soft-toned trumpet and trombone pop in to play the song, adding another color to the track.
“Another Day” puts Aggs’ lyrics front and center. She sings about recriminations from a relationship that never quite got off the ground: “I wanted to know you more / I figured out a way to make you want me.” This song features a guitar solo from Aggs, as melodic and catchy as her usual playing, but it doubles up for some guitar harmonies while the main guitar line continues in the background. The track also includes a bright banjo in the background, courtesy of Aggs’ father Chris.
Although the lyrics aren’t always that way, Sacred Paws’ music is almost relentlessly upbeat. Every song moves along at a fast clip, which is excellent for putting on the record and getting a single mood, but maybe a little too similar from track to track. So the songs that change things up, even a little bit, are worth highlighting.
“Turn Me Down” is just as fast, but it’s in a minor key, and the band takes advantage of the darker feel. Aggs’ main guitar line is in a lower register, giving the song some grit. The vocal harmonies are also slightly lower than usual, and the horns are slow and low. Yet Rodgers is pounding away as usual and keeping the song from getting too locked into its grittier feel.
“Winter” evokes a more melancholy feeling. Aggs sings, “Winter / Is just around the corner / Feels like / It’s never getting warmer”, over a somewhat less busy guitar line. The song also features a genuine tempo change, picking up the pace for the chorus and bringing in the strings before settling back down for another verse. The strings feature heavily in the outro, highlighting the ennui while Aggs lies back, content to be the accompaniment for a change.
With the more familiar-sounding material, there are some clear standouts. “Simple Feeling” has a fabulous, catchy guitar riff and a strong vocal melody harmonized. “Jump Into Life” expertly deploys the horns as a countermelody to the vocals and guitar. It also features Rodgers drumming with the snares turned off, nicely changing her sound. “Draw the Line” finishes out the record on a bit of a wistful note.” I’ll draw a line in the sand between your heart and mine / Don’t hold my hand.” The horns quietly support the main melody here, and their work is essential, since the guitars and drums are as upbeat as ever.
Despite the six-year gap, very little has changed in Sacred Paws’ sound. The additional tone colors are welcome throughout, and their basic style remains highly entertaining and engaging. Yet the lack of any real change of pace, stylistically or even tempo-wise, makes it hard to ignore how similar these songs sound. Still, with 11 tracks lasting just over 31 minutes, Jump Into Life doesn’t hang around long enough to wear out its welcome. This record is a good time all the way through.