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Red Rider: Neruda (Capitol. You don’t have to be familiar with Red Rider to enjoy the most recent efforts of this Canadian rock band. Although better known for their hits, White Hot and Lunatic Fringe, Red Rider has taken to tackling ling more challenging dimensions with Neruda

The alarming image if an urban mob’s perverse fascination in Power (Strength in Numbers) opens Neruda, Red Rider’s most lyrically powerful release to date.

Red Rider – Neruda. Mention contemporary Canadian Rock and a number of names spring readily to mind – April Wine, Loverboy, Rush, Rough Trade, Saga and The Payolas, just to mention a few.

Red Rider is an enigma. On one hand, you have a band than can display heavy metal excellence. On the other, you have a band that tends to get a bit carried away with itself.

That is where Red Rider stands today as they tour the Midwest with The J. Geils Band. One of their songs, “Lunatic Fringe,” has been getting extensive FM radio airplay and that, Cochrane said, sells tickets.

It’s odd enough the Beach Boys will play their summery rock in the dead of fall on their current tour. It’s even odder they chose Canadian hard-rockers Red Rider to open the shows.

The second LP by Red Rider, As Far As Siam, (Capitol) is a considerable improvement over Don’t Fight It, which suffered from unexciting production and the group’s indecisiveness.

As Far As Siam, Red Rider, Capitol. Red Rider’s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Tom Cochrane, is one of the few rock composers capable of writing songs in Cinemascope and Technicolor.

There’s an interesting chemistry about Red Rider. When leader Tom Cochrane’s husky haunting voice clicks with the subtle slide-guitar of Ken Greer, the band zeros in on an ethereal mood.

As lead singer Tom Cochane puts it, “the band that plays together, stays together.” Thus, lies the secret to Red Rider’s Compatibility.