FROZEN HOUSES – ALBUM REVIEW

Frozen Houses – Frozen Houses 

Frozen Houses - Frozen Houses
Release Date: Out Now

I’ve been on quite a journey with Cornish enigma Frozen Houses (aka Alex) and the eight tracks of this album represents something of a milestone along the road in that journey. ‘Frozen Houses’, as an album, opens with ‘Hey Leanne’ which ripples and bubbles with Paul Simon guitars and Badly Drawn Boy dusky vocals as it warms things up like Saturday morning sunshine pouring in through your bedroom window. On ‘Road Aroma’ there are some twangy roadhouse guitars courtesy of Ashley Height while Alex sings of promenades and fish’n’chips in a very Devine Comedy tail of everyday adventure.

Recent single ‘Tax & Tarmac’ is still a firm favourite with it’s Arcade Fire aesthetic and harmonised tales of Brits abroad in Europe and resisting the temptations of settling down. The chilled out slide guitar of ‘Goldest Teeth’ has a swing and swagger about it that should accompany the post-coital making of breakfast with a Jack Johnson vibe but with more heart and more brains (but no ruby slippers). Everything kicks up a notch on ‘Tomorrow We’re Gone’ with it’s furious guitars, driving beat and soft vocals that are just one level up from effortless. This album might centre around the songs of Frozen Houses but the collective musicians bringing their talents to bear on this make it a wondrous thing and the vocals of Lucy Hill (aka Little Lapin) are one of the many sparkling moments found in among the haze of this collection.

One of the key aspects here is that this is not just gentle and well-crafted song-writing but there is a subtle undercurrent of humour and a wry smile woven throughout each song. This is particularly evident on ‘Why So Serious’ as Alex sings “It was getting tense until somebody farted, in yourself have more faith, it’s only weather” atop some gentle acoustic strums and warped bass notes. ‘Thursday Lights’ has a jaunty, South of France jig about it which those lush harmonies and a shuffling drum band that evokes sand between the toes and cocktails on wooden tables. This small and perfectly formed albums closes with the optimistic vibes of ‘Greenhouse on Mars’ and that expansive sound is back with the driving drums and distorted vocals moving in territory occupied by the likes of Talking Heads, Arcade Fire and the Flaming Lips. The only crime with Frozen Houses is that this talent is being hidden under a bushel and not getting the attention of thousands as it should. Nevertheless, this album is a hugely impressive and arresting calling card that, if marketed properly, should get the attention of the right folk.


Live Dates:

23rd February – B-Bar, Plymouth

24th March – One Day Fest @ The Inn on the Shore, Downderry

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