This album is quite simply breathtaking in its scope and beauty. Fireworks Night's sophomore effort, following up 2003s splendid 'It's A Wide Wide Sea', it shimmers and sparkles through a backroom smokiness that shrouds elegant folk noir and jazz embellishments. A rolling collective that has moved through Devon, Oxford , the Channel Islands and finally the Big Smoke for an elongated mixing process for this latest opus, they are the brainchild of James Lesslie who operates under a musicians variant of workoholism. Setting up and running his own label whilst being the creative force behind Fireworks Night, the labours of running the label have clearly not diminished his creative output.
Recorded in the main on the Island of Jersey and instantly usurping Bergerac as the Islands greatest export, As Fools We Are is a stunning record of maturity and grace. 'When We Fell Through The Ice' dances and twists in the manner of a siren, luring unwitting sailors to an awe rapt doom. Whilst 'Rewards, Rewards, Rewards' is a piece of timeless majesty, compelling for every last note. Lavished with lyrics detailing the complicity of man's ability for love and violence 'As Fools We Are' is at times raw and exposed like the first cigarette on a winter morning, caustic and slow burning.
By the time you reach the dream like conclusion of 'Her Shiny Teeth' you feel sated, delirious and ready to do it all again. A Triumph.
Written by Jonathon Sebire, April 2007.
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