The Selkirk born and bred kings of the indie genre are back and better than ever with their newest album, Pedestrian Verse.
Frightened Rabbit, the acoustic, melancholy five-piece who formed ten years ago, have enjoyed a steady rise in success not only in Scotland, but also across the rest of the UK and Ireland. Their latest album, Pedestrian Verse, is set not only to impress the loyal fan base the band has already secured, but lure in those who have yet to jump on the band wagon.
Surpassing their 2010 album The Winter of Mixed Drinks, Pedestrian Verse is something far more grown up, less sporadic, and it makes more sense. The unmistakable vocals from Scott Hutchison, combined with the amalgamation of acoustic sound from the band make something special that would rival the likes of Mumford and Sons leaves Scottish predecessors Glasvegas in the dirt.
It’s relatable music, the kind that you don’t have to try to hard to follow. There aren’t any of the songs on the album that ‘just pass’. Each is credible in it’s own right and has every place to be there. Dead Now is an under rated highlight of the album, with Hutchison’s guttural shout of “we’ll scream hell towards heaven’s door” epitomising what a prolific songwriter he is and will no doubt continue to be in the future. Nitrous Gas is perhaps the jewel in the crown of this album. There’s something spine-tinglingly exciting about this track that pulls the rest of the album together and showcases what the band are all about.
Just when you think it can’t get better The Oil Slick jumps onto the scene, with lyrics like “I’ve got a voice like a gutter in a toxic storm,” and “there goes a love song drifting out to sea.” No imagination required, Frightened Rabbit so perfectly paint the picture for you already. The listener is at no point isolated by obscure lyrics or baffling, hard to follow rhythms with their latest album. It’s something unique to the listener and you can make of it what you will.
The quintet is steadily progressing from being Scotland’s best-kept musical secret to something incredibly exciting. If you’re looking for music to drive to, a song to think to or something to nod your head to – look no further, you’ve found it. There’s no reason as to why Frightened Rabbit can’t enjoy the same level of success as the likes of Mumford or Everything Everything, and maybe it’s just a matter of time.
[rating=4]
