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For over six years and three critically-acclaimed studio albums, Frightened Rabbit have been tirelessly working on building a dedicated fan base around the world with their crushingly emotive, marvellously honest and unmistakably Scottish approach to alt- folk.
Shortly after the release of their utterly awesome last record, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, the band left their beloved independent label home of Fat Cat and joined the major leagues by penning a deal with Atlantic.
Now, 2013 could be the year the Rabbit. Have they sold-out or are they finally cashing in on quality? Either way, they may not be Scotland’s favourite secret for much longer. Let’s have a listen.
'Acts of Man'
Typically Scottish and oh-so typically Frightened Rabbit, Pedestrian Verse begins with by uncompromisingly marrying the sweet and poetic with the brash and unpleasant. Almost subversively sticking two fingers up to any notion of a ‘mainstream breakthrough’, Scott Hutchison angelically harps 'I am that d*ckhead in the kitchen / putting wine in your best girl's glass' and 'I am the amateur pornographer / unpleasant publisher by hand' whilst comparing himself to 'flecks of sick on an office shoe' above sparse and evocative instrumentation. This is the perfect introduction to the band for all of the legions of fans they’re about to pick up.
'Backyard Skulls'
This is what you need – a soaring journey of balls and brains within a three minute pop song. Lovely stuff.
'Holy'
The fiery cousin of past single ‘Nothing Like You’, ‘Holy’ is a sure-fire future hit as rolling drums and richly textured guitars weave a charming soundscape similar to The National above sharp-tongued vocals and the almighty earworm chorus of “stop acting so holy – you know I’m full of holes.” This is going to be a right beast come festival season
'The Woodpile'
As life-affirming in tone as it is ambitious in scale, ‘The Woodpile’ is the colossal game-changer that F’Rabbits have been threatening to write for years. After all of them toilet-venue tours, this is the sound of these Scots stepping onto the World’s stage, and totally owning it. Good for them.
Watch the official video for 'The Woodpile' below
'Late March, Death March'
Whilst a lot of alt-folk bands are smugly earnest, F’Rabbit breathe an epic burst of life into even the bleakest of moods. As proven on ‘Late March, Death March’ there’s never a moment of solemn inevitability – just a skinful of spirit.
'December’s Traditions'
No one does winter warmers quite like Frightened Rabbit. It’s hearing Hutchison pine 'In so-called living rooms / Scottish past times come to roost / love’s labour stain a linen sheet,' when it becomes clear that this is a calibre of punch-drunk power and poetry from North of the border that we haven’t been blessed with since Idlewild were in their prime.
'Housing (In)'
A skittering bubbling of synths and chiming guitars briefly up the tempo for this bright breeze in the first parentheses of a two part song.
'Dead Now'
'This is not how health should feel' – we hear you man. He goes on: 'There’s something wrong with me and it reads nothing like poetry / so won’t you love me in spite of this ticks and inconsistencies.' As Byron-esque reflections smoulder above searing guitar work, never has such a wretched hangover and the regrets of a night wasted sounded so elegant or relatable.
Watch the official video for 'Dead Now' below
'State Hospital'
This was the first cut from the album that fans got to hear – and the first realisation we had that by no means had Frightened Rabbit ‘sold out’. 'Her heart beats like a breezeblock thrown down the stairs / her blood is thicker than concrete – forced to be brave / she was born into a grave" mourns the song’s tortured refrain. Stick that in your Top 40 and smoke it. As elegiac as it’s title suggests, ‘State Hospital’ is a brazen but lush slab of pure Scottish grit that shows that his rabbit is still as wild-eyed as ever.
Watch the official video for 'State Hospital' below
'Nitruous Gas'
The first and only real drab downer lull of the record, ‘Nitruous Gas’ isn’t a bad song as such, just a tad lacking in momentum or drive – especially when you consider that absolute gems like ‘Scottish Winds’ and ‘Boxing Night’ didn’t make the album. It’s all a bit U2 unfortunately.
'Housing (Out)'
Playful acoustic guitar and a slow crescendo of drums are the force behind this brief but bouncy campfire sing-along. Our only complaint with this, and previous 'Housing (In)' is that it wasn't fleshed out to a full track, as both are brilliant - but over much too soon.
'The Oil Slick'
Ooh, this is good. Channelling Wilco through an unmistakably F’Rabbit-y voice, ‘The Oil Slick’ is a devilish twist on Americana alt-rock via Edinburgh that starts off jerking and infectious but builds into a vast a screaming revelation – as huge as the colossal as the future that awaits Frightened Rabbit. 'Only an idiot would swim through the sh*t I write,' spits a typically self- deprecating Hutchison. Prepare to meet oceans of drowning idiots, Scott.
Pedestrian Verse is released 4 February, 2013.
