'As Fools We Are,’ the second album from Fireworks Night, is a dark collection of stripped-back folk tunes that’s set to be one of the better downbeat albums of 2007. Eschewing bombast in favour of gentle atmospherics, the songs here quietly seep their way into your subconscious. Think a sedated Caleb from Kings Of Leon singing the saddest songs ever written and you’re somewhere close. Considering there are nine of them, you might expect a bit more noise from Fireworks Night, but the phrase ‘less is more’ really does apply here, with each sound taking on more meaning due to the space surrounding it. You get the feeling that there isn’t a single noise (or period of silence, for that matter) on this disc that wasn’t meticulously thought through.
Consider the arrhythmic pauses at the start of ‘The Prettier Part’ or the metallic, horror-movie effects (coupled with eerie chanting) at the end of ‘Rewards, Rewards, Rewards.’ Both are highly effective. The best thing about the album is its dark undercurrent, which is subtle enough to miss if you’re only half-listening. It’d be quite easy to hum along to many of the tracks here should they come on the radio, for example. However, a keener ear will detect the seamier side. The driving psych-pop of ‘The Empty Orchestra’ is a perfect example. Tap your foot to it, sure. But listen closer and you’ll hear a fairly graphic tale of domestic abuse.
The latter part of the album is equal parts orchestral melodrama and quiet, guitar-strumming. ‘All The Little Insects’ is the kind of twisted, 19th century circus music you expect to emanate from a Hollywood serial killer’s bedroom, whilst ‘A Black Eye’ is a tortured duet with the lightest of instrumentation. ‘What You Don’t Know,’ meanwhile, breaks down into an unexpected, Beirut-esque polka waltz halfway through.
It’s this unpredictability that sets ‘As Fools We Are’ apart from others of its kind. With most acoustic albums, once you’ve heard the first few strums of each track you kind of get the idea. With ‘As Fools We Are,’ you never quite know where it’s going to take you next. It’s an album that rewards multiple listens, each one revealing another layer of heartbreak and emotion. A true work of art.
Written by Stephen Mogan, May 2007. www.gigwise.com. |
