Fatherson, Sum Of All Your Parts - album review
Album number three, and Fatherson are ripping the rulebook up.
They say they are shedding that ‘Brit rock’ pigeonhole to stretch their wings. Whether they were annoyed at such placing is not so clear, but whatever their reasoning for the change this album does carry a lot of ‘so there’ bite with it.
The sound is all-encompassing, its echoed reverberations making the listener feel like they are stood in the middle of the Scottish lads as they record around our eardrums.
It’s a great aura, masterfully captured by Claudius Mittendorfer of Arctic Monkeys, Interpol and Weezer fame. What it also does is provide the perfect arena for Greg Walkinshaw’s exceptional drumming to take centre stage and let loose.
From the interchanging beats of Building The Wall to the eerie timekeeping of opener The Rain that starts up once the piano intro is out the way. He really captures the imagination here in the same way as Cloud Nothings’ Jayson Gerycz does on their records.
And he is not alone. Here, we have another bassist who isn’t just happy to be the undercurrent for everyone else. Back on The Rain, Marc Strain’s bassline that signals the incoming post-rock implosion is mesmerising.
It’s not overly complicated like Interpol’s former bassist Carlos D, nor is it super aggressive like Hookey of Joy Division and New Order. It’s a lesson in ‘less is more’. He is creating an atmosphere without taking over.
Welsh songstress Bryde offers her vocals up for the poppier Nothing to No One. It adds a lighter dimension to the music as it plays off against Ross Leighton. It’s a nice switch-up for the lads.
Oh Yes is a sweet light-rock number that builds to a frustrated interlude that heralds the impending chorus. Radio-friendly this will probably get a lot of airtime going forward.
But the heavier moments like those mentioned above are the real diamonds. And we can add Charm School to that. The laddish stomping intro is one of the biggest nods to heavier rocky roots for the trio. And Leighton’s Scottish drawl sounds suggestive in its delivery.
This is a great album to listen to alone with headphones. You spot something new every listen.
Rating: 8/10
Fatherson play at Birmingham’s Sunflower Lounge on October 6
