"Wasted" by HEK
Review
Ten volumes ago, the Wilde track "Wasted" appeared on ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Four'. You may remember it. I'd be disappointed if you didn't.
Originally released by that band in 2019, writer Reiss Pinder and drummer Sean Statham have brought it to their current band HEK and reworked it for a new incarnation. You can acquire it from May 10th (though of course you might like to pre-save it via: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/hek2/wasted)
Obviously the lineup is different with keyboard player Lucy Gardner, lead guitarist Josh Sellis & bassist Liv Gardner not only offering entire instruments not on the first recording, but also their different sensibilities & ways of playing.
However that barely scratches the surface of what they've done with it. Firstly & most obviously, it's no longer Reiss on lead vocals but Liv. That's impossible to miss. This makes not only a clear distinction between the versions but also opens out the range of arrangements HEK have at their disposal which adds yet more dimensions to their already spectacularly impressive live set.
I first heard the song live from the band back last August at their HMV Empire gig & remarked on how well it went down at the time. On that occasion Josh appended a coda paying tribute to "Freebird" which raised it to suitably epic levels, though I've not heard him do that since when they've played it. And don't expect it on the single as it's not there. You get the feeling that it's one of those tracks they so enjoy playing that they can't resist having some extra fun live.
As I said, it's not just the change of vocals which has occurred: this is a band of stunning skills & self confidence and a straight cover is unlikely to have interested them (if you can call a song a "cover" when one of the members wrote it).
Equally part of the HEK philosophy seems to be to see what the potential of each song is & then try to draw it out: their take on "Wasted" is far longer in duration (though it doesn't overstay its welcome for a moment: and speaking as someone with minimal tolerance towards self-indulgent noodling extending songs, that is not praise lightly given). Call it "epic" if you will.
This band are as tight as anything you might conceive & don't waste a note or beat on anything musically flabby or wasteful. Whole new parts have been conceived and so one might say reasonably that the song is enhanced. I'm not going to argue with you on that.
The arrangement I think brings the melodies out more comprehensively (though there are some splendidly snarly guitars to offer balance and variety). I'd also that there is a greater deployment of hooks and since Liv's vocal take not only demonstrates full understanding of & commitment to the lyrics, that "Wasted" just seems "right" with her singing. All in all, it's been reconfigured to maximise its commercial potential (though I suppose the words are fairly adult): when are HEK going to get the breakthrough these incredibly strong singles so obviously merit. I'm hearing nothing obviously better from any major, established acts at the moment.
You simply cannot underestimate the impact on this listener of hearing an artist enjoy what they are doing: that makes the difference for me. It certainly applies here & in fact the band make it explicit in their announcement: "We had so much fun recording this track". It shows, believe me.
Thankfully the word is spreading regarding HEK (good to see them on Rawsound TV) and they are playing more & more widely: you can catch them next at The Tin on April 25th, The Beehive in London on April 26th (alongside Concrete Fun House), The Victoria in Birmingham on May 2nd (along with Bright Black), The Big Difference in Leicester on May 4th .and back to The Victoria on May 31st.
