Opening with the familiar sound of angular guitars and super-clean mid-00s indie production values, ‘By the Fireside’ trundles along at mid-tempo.
It’s a competent melodic opener with a killer bridge later on in the track but it doesn’t really grab you in the way the production values and track number suggest it should.
On the contrary, ‘My Philosophy’ boils over with youthful energy before burning out (never fade away) at its perfectly concise conclusion at 1 minute and 43 seconds.
With an infectious guitar riff that brings to mind PAWS, albeit clean-shaven and sharply dressed – FRANK are throwing their arms up in the air, forgetting their frustrations and having fun.
‘Colours’ is another fairly realised modern mid-tempo indie rocker with a giddy chorus and nice breakdown.
The playing, like on the rest of the EP is confident and accomplished, though often a positive on this record, ‘Colours’ would have benefitted from a ‘less is more’ approach to the drumming in particular; as it occasionally verges on sonic clutter – leaving the relaxed verses fighting for room.
Like ‘My Philosophy’, ‘Fishing’ is another instant hit, alarm-like guitars anticipate its arrival before a driving rhythm propels the listener straight into the living room-come-dancefloor of a drunken teenage punk party.
You’ve finally plucked up the courage to dance with your crush; you jump around, smile and shout something about crocodiles during the frenetic opening, shuffle in a little closer during the well executed Pavement-esque breakdown and finally, (finally!) move in for that first euphoric kiss as the soft sing along vocals draw the track to a close.
The highs are certainly high and the weak points can’t be considered very weak, this record is full to the brim with promising musical ideas and for a debut EP this is a very good sign.
Word: Chris McCrory
