Fat White Family
Forgiveness is yours
Domino
April 29, 2024
Web Exclusive
It is recommended that you clear some brain space before listening to it Forgiveness is yours, the fourth album from South London cult band Fat White Family. The 11 tracks show a complete disdain for any particular style or genre and the album as a whole is an ambitious maelstrom of musical influences and social commentary tangled in a sloppy mix of indie rock, post punk and existential psych rock.
It's safe to say there's plenty of flamboyant, sloppy yet heartfelt scuzz rock on the new record to keep fans happy and cement their status as a cult band, but also enough progress and development as melodics to pull off oddly catchy riffs and distorted mood swings from the tube of musical colors the band works with. The best examples of this newly discovered whimsical energy are the “John Lennon” tracks. “Visions of Pain”, “What's That You Say” and single “Bullet of Dignity”. As insanely delightful as they are demented and cacophonous, these standout tracks sound like a mash-up of fine tracks from Baxter Dury, Man Man, The Residents and Godley and Creme.
But it will take some commitment on the part of the listener to get used to all of this. Most songs are a tight mix of burly melodies and angular hooks, often with disturbing lyrics that straddle the line between sarcastic and cynical. It's as if the Fat White Family aren't just making the most of the apocalypse in front of us, but baiting us into reveling in the misery of the world spinning out of control while taking us on their soundtrack journey.
But just like the miasma of a fun carnival, the Fat White Family at times struggles to get out of its own way and has a hard time navigating through it all. Some songs stick with less of what makes music so appealing and lack that intangible component, creating an uneven album that's somewhat choppy and inconsistent. And some listeners may find subject matter too intimidating (do we really need to hear the tragic story of a five-year-old boy's circumcision, as told in the terrifying, frenetic and heavily percussive track “Today You Become Man”?).
Forgiveness is yours it is original, exciting and appealing to adventurous souls looking for a listening experience outside their comfort zone and into the recklessly honest world of a unique and talented band. (www.fatwhitefamilymusic.com)
Author Rating: 6.5/10
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