Friendly
People – Shake (Independent)
The members of Friendly People came together in the
Boston winter of 2010/11, beginning as a loose jam session in a living room,
and coming to some sort of conclusion with their debut album “Shake”.
In-between they honed their craft, played a lot of shows, and recently toured
nationally, earning a slot at this year’s South By Southwest Festival.
It’s no surprise a major breakthrough is on the cards;
the Friendly People play an energized form of alt. rock, which sounds utterly
contemporary, whilst incorporating all sorts of influences, including new folk,
post-punk, Americana and progressive styles. When heard altogether the result
is powerfully persuasive, complex yet natural, and remarkably approachable.
There are seven permanent members of the band,
including two drummers, and on “Shake” they’re joined by another dozen
musicians and vocalists. The sound is always full and detailed, yet they
somehow avoid confusion or cluttering their songs with excess. Songwriter Pat
McCusker (he also sings and strums an acoustic guitar) revels in revealing
abstractions, taking the listener on lyrical flights, which are to be
deciphered to give meaning.
His knack for the details is striking – on “Branches”
there are some glorious lines and a memorable chorus, which is buoyed by swollen,
swirling strings and things, before breaking like a high tide. Adventurous and
daring, “Move” arrives on a slither of noise, overtaken almost immediately by
an insistent beat and McCusker’s vocal. It builds beautifully, employing shades
of early/mid period Talking Heads and fading into the six-minute “Maps”. A
grand design of a song, in several parts, it thrills and confounds in equal
measure.
Phil S.
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