Let's precede this by saying we're not a) related to, b) paid by, c) working for, d) friends with or e) sponsored by Fenech-Soler. We are just completely obsessed with them. Because they are fucking fantastic. So when the self-titled album popped through our letterbox we were more than a little over excited. We were so over-over-excited we nearly dropped it into our pasta bake. What follows is really just a love letter masquerading as a review. Dear Fenech-Soler,
How do we love thee, let us count the ways:
1. The stuff that opens the album: is a song called 'Battlefields'. It starts all choral and relaxed, and you think "hmm, album opener", and then all of a sudden there's a squelch and a snare and a "Hey" and we're off at a pace. This is the equivalent of opening a present and not only getting what you asked for, but getting a puppy, a pony and an X-Box as well.
2. The stuff we've already heard: ('Stop & Stare', 'LA Love' and 'Lies' we're talking to you) We illegally downloaded these MP3s a long while ago and they're the reason we got excited about the band in the first place. We're still excited. We've just overplayed them a bit. 'Lies' is a pretty good yardstick of whether you're going to like this album or not. If you liked it you're going to be extremely pleased with this. If you didn't like perhaps you should sit in the corner and have a think about what you've done.
3. The stuff that's yet to come: We heard somewhere that 'Demons' is going to be the next single. Good choice. It's rowdy, it's got lyrics about 'demons' and 'running', it's got an oh-oh-ohh refrain. What more could you want from a second single? A pony maybe, but we already covered that with 'Battlefields'.
4. The stuff that surprised us: Hello 'Stone Bridge' and 'Walk Alone', you're sort of ballads, but ballads if they were written by a load of rowdy electro boys in sparkly outfits.
5. The other stuff: 'Golden Sun', 'The Great Unknown' and 'Contender'. One of these is our favourite on the album, one of these is over 5 minutes long, one of these contains a distorted horn section. All of these can be filed under b for brilliant.
In a musical landscape of ever shifting genre boundaries Fenech-Soler tick so many boxes it's a wonder their biro hasn't run out. The album combines pop hooks with dance riffs, indie lyrics with soaring vocals, guitar sensibilities with synth morals, and delivers ten tracks that feel like they've been lovingly crafted from the bones of the Gods of music themselves.
Do you think that's enough to get us a quote on the album sticker?
Love,
RobotPigeon
The album's released on September 27th on B-Unique. As you can tell we think it's passable. Here's a link to the HMV website where you seem to be able to buy it for one pence. Someone should really look into that.
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