Golden Discs
BURN THE MAPS Golden Discs "The
Frames" have long been regarded as one of Ireland's most unappreciated
and unrewarded groups despite spurning numerous innovative rock tunes and
haunting acoustic ballads, enough to have the biggest of bands grinning
from ear to ear with pride, yet up to the release of their mammoth number
one live album 'Set List', Ireland seemed the only place where they
truly held the respect they so rightly deserved. This undeserved neglect
looks like becoming a trouble of the past with the much anticipated release
of 'Burn The Maps', September 17th.Recorded by the band's very own
Rob Bochnik and ex-band member turned producer David Odlum in the tranquil
atmosphere of 'Black Box Studios' in France, a popular choice for
rising Irish based bands, The Frames have amalgamated their discordant
concoction of raging guitar rants and somber twilight ballads to orgasmic
proportions revealing their finest work to date. This, their fifth studio
album is a monumental leap for the Irish favourites and should see them
concur, previously impregnable territories, most notably the land of the
brave and the free, aided by the signing to an extremely hip and respectable
American label and the release of their number one live album, 'Set
List'. 'Burn The Maps' again sees The Frames willingly experiment with
their unabashed style of violent guitar squalling partnered with gorgeous
melancholic balladry. Tracks like singles 'Fake' and 'Finally'
are perfect examples of this wild exuberance and sober melodies , the first
exerts a vicious undertone, a severe pop offering full of fire, while the
second features hair raising vocals from Glen Hansard supported by the
usual atmospheric musical arrangement provided by Colm Mac Iomaire.This
is pretty much the tone of the entire album, some might say nothing new
and to some extent this statement is true, but to dismiss this as merely
another slice of folk/rock melodrama would be a crime to music. 'Burn The
Maps' offers a depth not found on any of The Frames previous four albums
and manages to extract the finest elements of each to merge them into one
sublime masterpiece. 'Burn The Maps' is a statement of intent, an
album with purpose, one which should propel The Frames to superstar status
across the water, here is an invite to open your heart and absorb to a
truly magical piece of timeless music.The Frames: 'Burn The Maps'
is released September 17th in all Golden Discs stores. |
