The Winter Of Mixed Drinks [VINYL]

Having bought the album, I listened to it roughly twenty times in the first week. Each listen continues to reveal something new in the music, be that an illusive lyric in the rasping vocals of Scott Hutchinson, or a glimmering instrumental nuance. Simultaneously dark and enlightening, each song demonstrates the intricate genious of this band. I love this album. Buy it, you know you want to.

4.5 stars

Frightened Rabbit's previous album "The Midnight Organ fight" has attracted a fierce loyalty for its stunning songs of passion and heartbreak. It is one of the great British albums of the past decade bar none and showed that this Scottish band alongside other contemporaries like the Twilight Sad are bringing an awesome level of new energy to music north of the border.

The weight of expectation particularly after an album so loved is bound to be sky-high but more than that "TMOF" is a deeply personal record which the listener almost appropriates from the band and its great confessional songwriter Scott Hutchison. Are we therefore inevitably heading for dissapointment?

Hutchinson himself has stated that that the Winter of Mix Drinks is "less obviously personal and brutal than the last record" and I suspect that those looking for the ferocious lyrics combined with the gossamer tenderness of songs like "Poke" or "My Backwards Walk" may be disappointed. The Winter of Mixed Drinks (great title) is a much more expansive rock album; some have even called it a bid for stadium status. Whatever the case it marks a linear progression from "Midnight Organ Fight" into a much bigger sound and a new chapter for the band. This is achieved in this reviewers humble opinion without Frightened Rabbit losing those key characteristics that generate the passionate fan base and the rough edges which make this band such a joy.

The album gets off to a superb start with "Things". Waves of guitar roll out and then Hutchison's vocal kicks in. It is a big song that builds over four minutes into an anthem that will have the lighters waved in the air at festivals and will be superb show opener. It is followed by the single "Swim until you can't see land" a melodic rock song with wonderful band harmonies and a tender lead vocal. The highlights then start to pile up.

"The Wrestle" sees Hutchison's distinctive Selkirk accent and vocals to the fore in what must be a brilliant emerging anthem for the band. The thumping second single "Nothing like you" is bold and brash song that will be a live favourite. The albums highlight quickly follows. "Footshooter" it's a signature song by the band and effortless. Underpinned by a yearning melody and beautifully paced. It is precisely because of songs like this that this band is so special. The same applies to the truly wonderful "Not Miserable" with Hutchinson's voice to forefront and with the wonderful slow build so characteristic of FR. The album ends with the lovely and plaintive "Yes I would" which is probably the song from this album that would have sat happiest on the Midnight Organ Fight.

This album therefore marks a departure but a welcome one. The context of TMOF was a of a torrid break up for Hutchison and in a strange way it reminded me in spirit of Joni Mitchell's "Blue" albeit the music is miles apart. It's probably a one off, never to be repeated. The Winter of Mixed Drinks is more conventional but also bigger and bolder. It is not so painfully confessional but the essence of Frightened Rabbit is intact and possibly the best emerging band in the UK has produced its bid to be a major league player.

It's been a while waiting for the new Frabbit album but proved to be well worth it.
The sound is more polished and polite but none of the appeal has been lost and there are a couple of anthemic wonders.
I can only reccomend you go out and buy this album and if you can catch them live as they are a superb gig band.