At the point where the UK summer kicked in, Kelowna released an excellent single, ‘Insanity’. A track that introduced the Scottish rock band to many, it managed to mix different guitar driven styles, from melodic hard rock to stoner grooves, in such a way that it made this still new band sound rather grand, but without any feeling of grandiosity.

Their follow up, ‘Wild and Free’ couldn’t sound more different if it tried. It shares an introduction that’s driven by bright sounding guitars and prominent keys, very much harking back to the 80s and far more of a melodic rock/AOR sound, before dropping into a punchy verse where chunky basslines underscore a wall of guitars and a brilliantly accessible vocal. By the end of the first verse, lovers of classic sounding melodic rock will certainly feel the appeal here. Those hoping for a little more grit, meanwhile, should get their wish via a slightly bluesy lead guitar and a bigger riff leading back into a great chorus which adds some well placed harmonies to the Kelowna sound. Listeners who were intrigued by the opening keys will certainly love the way they’ve been used to create strong musical bridges between this number’s vocal elements, reinforcing any feelings that this is a brilliantly arranged number.

Hitting their stride with a very accessible track, Kelowna represent the more commercial sound of the current New Wave of Classic Rock, but manage to look back in a way that doesn’t feel tired. Although a lot of people will hear various influences from the past here, this feels a lot sparkier than a band just slavishly recycling bits of 80s rock, and overall, ‘Wild and Free’ is a radio-friendly banger that deserves to really put the band on the map.