The Frames is undoubtedly
Ireland's best loved band. In world classification terms the band is up
there with the very best, and in live performance terms few others can
match its passion and ability to involve an audience. All this adds up
to a strong sense of anticipation for new releases from a growing band
of worldwide fans. In frontman Glen Hansard the band possesses a
true great who revels in the live arena, and in leading his excellent fellow
musicians. Characteristically over twelve months in the creating, the album
(partially due to an unremitting and extremely heavy international tour
schedule) eventually arrived a few days ago. It's grittier, edgier, more
passionate, more adventurous, and more involving than any earlier Frames
studio album. In short, it's stunning...
In my view, the trick of studio recording
is to make the record sound like it's a series of one-take live recordings.
I find that this increases listener involvement appreciably, and takes
one right into the eye of the storm. Track one hints strongly that the
Frames are strongly aware of this. In more recent interviews Hansard
has underlined the band's key objective of remaining independent (the band
records on its own Plateau label) and maintaining a tight grip on
the recording process (Hansard has entrusted Steve Albini,
ex-band guitarist David Odlum and band guitarist Rob Bochnik
with most production and mixing duties). Happy is a slow-moving,
contemplative, raw and strongly melodic song with one of the most expressive
Hansard vocals I can remember. The achievement here is to accurately
echo the song's sentiments ("Come help me out I'm sick from the fight,
from inserting a laugh where there's none, show me where this joke got
tired...") through the recorded musical ambience. It ends up being totally
credible, is an immaculate start to the album, and a strong hint of what's
coming...
Next track Finally has an
anthemic, crusading vibe to it as Hansard's voice changes to echo
the song's more upbeat tones. The instrumental passages are epic including
some fine fiddle work from band mainstay Colm Mac Con Lomaire and
superb riffs from ‘new' guitarist Rob Bochnik. A stunning song by
any standard. Dream Awake follows with a song that opens almost
inaudibly but grows in scale as it progresses helped by stuttered drum
beats and a mocking Hansard vocal. The final instrumental rush is
nothing short of breathtaking.
Two more incredibly moving songs
follow before the glacial, super-melodic and haunting tones of Trying
appear. A close-mic vocal completes a song that is impossible to lodge
from the brain. But then another memorable stunner called Fake bursts
onto the scene. This was the Irish chart-topping single released last year
to keep the fans happy and succeeded big-time. It's pop/rock at its supreme
best with a soundstage of exciting guitar riffs, superb rocky choruses,
a vocal that travels the range, and a massive melody. If released and promoted
here in the UK it would fly...
The final segment of the album illustrates
how the band has evolved and progressed over the last few years, especially
in the area of creating gut-wrenching instrumental play. The drumming seems
more intuitive and mood-driven, the guitar work more dramatic and heavy
rock influenced - Underglass and Ship Caught In The Bay are
supreme examples of this, and I doubt whether you'll hear anything as good
on a rock record in 2004.
The album closes in an exceptionally
inspiring way. First with the soft, contemplative tones of Keepsake
with its haunting fiddle and keyboard passages, and the most intimate Hansard
vocal. The song then concludes with an instrumental crescendo that matches
the very best from Australian instrumental rock wizards, The Dirty Three.
I can't wait to see this performed live, and to witness the audience response...
And then finally Locusts that typifies the unrivalled intimacy and
listener involvement that comes as standard with every Frames album.
Last year the Frames released
SET LIST (a recording of a Dublin concert) and showed conclusively
why the band is so highly regarded as live performers, and the level of
acclaim accorded by people attending the band's concerts. BURN THE MAPS
now proves that the band have mastered the studio and is able to create
and produce what will go down as probably the finest rock record to come
out of Ireland for many years. I do not exaggerate when I say that every
lover of serious, communicative rock music should own this album. And I
can promise you it will not leave your CD player for many, many months.
It's that good.
5/5
Please Note: BURN THE MAPS
is released in the UK on the 9th February, 2005. If you'd like to buy this
fabulous ablum now I suggest you log onto www.theframes.ie where I believe
it is currently available. |
