Sometimes here at TGTF we get some music sent to us that is complete rubbish. Most of that stuff never gets a review, fortunately, ending up straight in our bin. So it’s nice when we get something in the post that we’ve been looking forward to for a while, having first introduced Red Light Company last April.
Their new album, Fine Fascination, is out on 2nd March and looks set to be one of my favourites of the year. Since we first featured them the five piece have supported the likes of The Pigeon Detectives, Kaiser Chiefs, Editors and Glasvegas with their huge anthemic songs which just seem to be getting better and better. When we first heard some of the songs, they were good. Now they’ve turned into massive, memorable anthems that live we can only imagine sound amazing.
At times, lead singer Richard Frenneaux’ vocals could sound nasal and untrained when we first heard RLC almost a year ago, however they’ve fine-tuned their sound, with Frenneaux guiding the band through their tales of relationships, addiction and friendship with the skill of a frontman on his umpteenth album. Tracks like “Scheme Eugene” and “With Lights Out” have a genuine feeling of yearning, something that everyone can relate to.
You’ve all probably heard tracks like forthcoming single “Arts and Crafts” (video below) on the likes of Radio 1, with both the daytime shows and evening specialist shows giving the band equal attention – they’re suitably pop to have mainstream success, whilst suitably “different” to get the attention of the likes of Zane Lowe. Fine Fascination manages to take bits from some of my favourite bands (Black Market Music era Placebo mixed with Editors anda hint of Arcade Fire at their more coherent times) to combine into an album that will undoubtably be filling Acadamey sized venues for the end of the year.
There are the noticeable stand-out hands-in-the-air highlights (Scheme Eugene, Arts and Crafts, With Lights OUt, Meccano), and also the more meaningful ones (When Everyone Is Everybody Else, The Alamo), along with the (really good, but still) filler tracks such as New Jersey Television. So, basically something for everyone. Expect much NME drooling this year, and much NME hating next year. You’ve been warned – now go and buy it. It’s amazing.
Below: Three free demo versions of Red Light Company tracks. These aren’t the versions that appear on the album, and were sent to me by the PR firm dealing with RLC (full disclaimer to try and prevent an over zealous Cease and Desist notice!)
MP3: Red Light Company – Fine Fascination
MP3: Red Light Company – Scheme Eugene
MP3: Red Light Company – With Lights Out
Red Light Company: Arts and Crafts
Red Light Company’s Fine Fascination is out on Monday 2nd March, as is the new single, Arts and Crafts.
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