Tag Archives: Stuart Manson

Fixers – We’ll Be The Moon

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One of my most anticipated albums of the year, Fixers‘ debut full length We’ll Be The Moon, has finally dropped. Well actually it’s currently being streamed online for a limited time by various sources (NME Magazine, Clash Magazine, CMU Music Network, Under The Radar, This Is Fake DIY, In The Riff to name a few) with the physical and digital releases available to buy next month.

The reason this album is so anticipated, and not just by me I can assure you, is that Fixers have spent the last couple of years releasing excellent singles such as ‘Majesties Ranch’, ‘Swimmhaus Johannesburg’ and ‘Iron Deer Dream’, as well as treating us to two brilliant EP releases in the form of Here Come 2001 So Let’s All Head For The Sun and Imperial Goddess Of Mercy. The quality of these releases is undeniable, and with We’ll Be The Moon featuring all of the previous noted singles as well as some tracks from the aforementioned EPs and some new tracks, fervour for the album was bubbling away. Could Fixers replicate the sunshine laced magic of their previous releases, and amalgamate their best work into one shining new body of work?

The answer, as if could have been anything, is a resounding yes. YES. In capitals. Just like I’ve written. Because if you think of connotations of the word ‘yes’, you could probably take many of them and apply them to this glorious release. We’ll Be The Moon is everything great about Fixers, and then some. With their sun soaked tunes and summer vibes abounding all over the album like rays of golden light, this could be a modern day classic. Opening with the jangling and bright ‘Majesties Ranch’ was a wise move, as it sets the tone for the album, almost like the announcement of summer itself.  This tune went down a treat when released earlier as a single, so it’s no surprise to see it here. Songs that the band have releases before, such as ‘Swimmhaus Johannesburg’, ‘Crystals’ and ‘Iron Deer Dream’ were all terrific on their first release and pleasingly have lost none of their appeal, slotting nicely into the running order of the album.

The album, and by extension the band, really excel with the new tunes that comprise the rest of the album. It could have been easy to just stick together all the previous single and EP releases as one disc and put that out, but Fixers aren’t the kind of band to do that. They’ve not sat back on their laurels and have written some utterly cracking new tunes that complement the old favourites well. Fusing their own brand of psychedelia with Beach Boy pop sensibilities, marrying synthesizer driven beats with jangling guitars, tunes like ‘Floating Up’, ‘Pink Light’ and ‘Dais Flowers’ are surely destined to become instant fan favourites, whilst the floating, ethereal ‘World Of Beauty’ is possibly one of the best tracks they’ve ever written, with a trippy and space-age vibe running through the very seam of the song. Elsewhere the slow burn majesty of ‘Amsterdam’ is like a comedown, but an enjoyable one, before halfway through the song you take another hit, and you’re off again. ‘Really Great World’ sums up my mood when listening to this album, as it indeed seems that everything is bloody brilliant and nothing is wrong when you play this track, so soothing and cheerful it is. Closing track ‘Good Night’ is aptly named, and a perfect closer, acting as the lullaby to the party that has preceded it.

We’ll Be The Moon has been well worth the wait. Album of the year contender already. Amazing.

8/10

Stuart Manson

Skinny Lister – Forge & Flagon

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Skinny Lister may not be a name that you are familiar with, but if there is any sort of justice kicking about, then surely it is one that you will soon know and love. For those unlucky enough to not yet know the utter brilliance and majesty of Skinny Lister, I shall give you a quick rundown. Skinny Lister are a merry band of buccaneers from the 18th century who are found of sailing and drinking. Well no actually, that’s total nonsense. But whilst they physically are an excellent bunch of musicians, their spirit could certainly be described as what I previously wrote. You see Skinny Lister (Daniel Heptinstall, Lorna Thomas, Maxwell Thomas, Sam ‘Mule’ Brace and Dan Gray) sing spectacular, uplifting tunes of seafaring and the like using more traditional instruments (like fiddles, ukuleles, accordions, a stomp box, mandolin and the like) to create a sort of ‘folk’ type sound. Ok, I’ve said it out loud now, and whilst the mere mention of the word ‘folk’ will have many departing in their droves, you need to know that when it comes to Skinny Lister, large woolly jumpers, pints of bitter and other such connotations are not applicable. Instead think more of foot stomping, wild dancing and glasses of beer and rum raised aloft in a raucous sing along. Quite simply, Skinny Lister are all about a good time. And the tunes that comprise Forge & Flagon (named after a pub!), their debut album, are proof of this.

Skinny Lister, last year crowned ‘The Hardest Working Band In Britain’, have spent the last couple of years tirelessly touring the UK, playing gigs anywhere and everywhere to rapturous receptions. They’ve used this time and previous EP releases to hone their song writing and musicianship, and have perfected their craft to become unsinkable and as tight as an Admiral’s trousers. They have poured this craft into the lovingly created body of work that is Forge & Flagon.

The album opener, old favourite ‘If The Gaff Don’t Let Us Down’, sets out their stall and the tone of the album is clear for all from the very first note of the accordion. This is a furiously fun track, and will have you stomping your foot so much and so hard that it will either put a hole in whatever you’re stomping, or it will simply fall off. Whatever happens first. The shout along vocals that see the whole band merrily roar lyrics back at you invoke visions of people with their arms around each other, flagon of mead in hand, belting out a favourite ditty. If you thought that this track is a good sing along, the very next track, ‘John Kanaka’, is even more of a sing along, featuring almost no instruments.

The sense of fun and cheer is evident throughout the album, and if you can’t smile at songs such as the delightful ‘Rollin’ Over’ then it’s possible that you are dead inside. The musical arrangements are never complicated yet are always memorable, vastly entertaining and, dare I say it, downright charming. I simply can’t fathom how someone cannot be charmed by a song such as ‘Seventeen Summers’ or the dreamy ‘Plough And Orion’. And I defy you not to fall in love with the rich tapestry of lyrical storytelling that weaves delightfully throughout the album. Tales of weddings, the flights of birds, sea based adventures, yearning for home and love are just some of things sung about, and with great gusto.

Probably the best thing about this album though is that it feels like an inclusive experience, in that when listening to it you really feel that you are taking part in what the band are singing, be it in the story or the telling of it. When listening to this album, I always have a smile on my face and I’m always singing along and stomping my foot or tapping my toes or moving in some way to the music. Skinny Lister have somehow found a way to be right beside you when you listen to Forge & Flagon, and it’s that that makes it so utterly wonderful. This is absolutely album that you simply must own. A contender for album of the year.

9/10

Stuart Manson