Vancouver, Canada-based rocker Pennan Brae has been making regular appearances on our blog since he first came to my attention in late 2021. His unique sound, which applies a fresh take to classic rock and roll, never fails to excite me. So when I saw he had released a new album, I knew I had to give it a listen. It’s called Arcade.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by John Keane

Arcade is Pennan’s 13th full-length album and it takes influence from the rock of the ’70s and ’80s including The Rolling Stones and John Mellencamp. The album opens with Hold The Line that feels like a great re-introduction to the Pennan Brae sound. Lively, swaggering and quite unlike anyone else.

The bright and theatrical Stage Right comes next before we get to the album’s lead single Jettison. With a catchy groove, it’s the kind of track that will get you moving along, while its image-laden lyrics will fill your head. You can check out its animated lyric video below.

Swing On A Vine is hypnotic with a mix of classic rock from the ’70s and indie rock from the ’00s. The feisty Rumble then brings us to Bon Voyage. Rich with a sense of swagger and biting lyrics, it’s a definite highlight and it’s easy to see why it was chosen as a single.

Sauntering opens the album’s final stretch with some lovely harmonies and some pop-rock sensibilities. Shrug keeps the harmonies but returns to classic rock and roll before Ricochet adds bouncy touches of psychedelia. Final single Arrival Time ends the album on a bright and adventurous note.

If you’re already a fan of Pennan’s music, then Arcade will be a welcome addition to his discography for you. If you’re just coming to it now, welcome on board! I hope you find his music as much of a breath of fresh air as I do. You can check out the whole of Arcade below.