Frozen Houses – Frozen Houses
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| Frozen Houses - Frozen Houses |
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.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/frozenhouses/
Live Dates:
23rd February – B-Bar, Plymouth
24th March – One Day Fest @ The Inn on the Shore,
Downderry