Scotland has a lot to offer, with acts such as Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic and Frightened Rabbit all calling it their home. Fatherson are the latest group to break out of the highlands and after the success of their debut album ‘I Am An Island’ the trio are back with a new record which sees them set their sights on much bigger things.
As opening track (and recent single) ‘Just Past The Point Of Breaking’ chimes in, you get a sense of the emotion that is tangled within these twelve tracks. The pounding heartbeat of the drums, blended with the delicate riff begin the album in a sensible manner, but ‘Always’ and ‘Lost Little Boys’ follow suit and really up the pace of the album. ‘Lost Little Boys’ is an incredibly anthemic tune, its chorus absolutely soars and you can picture the impact it’ll make live, bouncing bodies left, right and centre.
‘Wondrous Heart’ flaunts the confidence that the band have gained whilst writing this record, taking things down a slightly different path to what may be expected of them. The track has more of a folk influence behind it and isn’t all too dissimilar from something you’d find on a Mumford and Sons record, and that’s no bad thing.
‘Joanna’ and ‘Younger Days’ stand as the two ballads of the album, and while ‘Joanna’ allows Leighton’s vocals to dreamily float on with just a simple, echoing guitar line, ‘Younger Days’ is the real spine tingler. The piano elements emphasise the vocals and deliver the music in a beautiful manner.
It’s then that we get to the cremè de la cremè of Fatherson. Title track ‘Open Book’ is a jaw dropper, a tear jerker and a stadium worthy anthem all rolled into three minutes. Beginning with gentle guitar strumming, Leighton’s vocals are faultless (as they are throughout the album) and the words, “I’m scared that you’ll find out I’m an open book with no pages / You don’t care, it’s over / Come closer, it’s always been you,” provide just a simple pluck on one of the many heartstrings you’ll have fiddled with throughout the track. Once the chorus kicks in the track swells in size, as passion and heart pour out while the drums intesvely pummel and the harmonies shine.
‘Forest’ will click in the memories of anyone who has caught the band live over the past year, as it wormed its way into their setlist as an early insight to the album, while ‘Kids’ and ‘Stop The Car’ stand as solid rock songs. Huge choruses, bobbing melodies and sweet vocal harmonies are Fatherson’s forte, and they execute them brilliantly on both tracks.
‘Chasing Ghosts’ and ‘Sleeping Over’ wind everything down to a mellower tone and a slower pace for the finale. They allow you to really reflect on every story told within each song, the string section echoing in your ears, Leighton’s words pricking at your feelings as he sings of romance and the experiences which shaped this album and its final outcome. Every moment on this record has been clearly thought out and what you’re left with is an intensely emotional, and utterly captivating piece of art.
TAMSYN WILCE