Track Listing

1. Jump In The Pool
2. In The Hospital
3. Paris
4. White Diamonds
5. Strobe
6. On Board
7. Lovesick
8. Skeleton Boy
9. Photobooth
10. Ex Lover

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #335 in Music
• Released on: 2008-08-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Observer 19-8-09
'The Band of the Summer'

CD Description
The debut eponymous album from Hertford electro-shoegaze three-piece Friendly Fires joins acts such as M83 and Asobi Seksu in taking established genres and making them palatable for the nu-rave generation. Taking Prince and the Kompakt label as prominent influences, this release shows the band to be a diverse bunch, while the production talents of Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Babyshambles, Maximo Park) keep things slick for the first single, 'Jump In The Pool'. Elsewhere, the band themselves are producers, giving 'Friendly Fires' a distinctly personalised sound and brimming confidence in execution.

Customer Reviews

Bonus CD? When will record companies (& bands?) be made to STOP doing this?!?
This isn't a review of the music, ok? (the music get 3 stars, incidently). It's a call for the 're-issued with bonus CD' nonsense to stop. I've bought this album once, when it came out last year, so why oh why is it out with all these lovely extras for less than what i paid for mine, which, by the way, is next to worthless because of this 'new' version. So, should one want all the tracks, they're asking the honest, paying public, to fork out again? Get lost!!!
If the bonus CD has more than 4 songs on it then they should be made to sell it as a separate release as well, for a very small price, so that the people that bought it early aren't ripped off.

If you agree that bonus tracks/CDs need to be regulated in some way and think, like me, that the record companies have a real nerve to do this then click 'YES' to useful review. Ta.

A proper gem of an album...great fun
Been keeping tabs on Friendly Fires since hearing 'Paris' a year ago and saw them at Reading last month. Theres something about a band that not only knows how to use a cowbell but mixes styles - dance/house beats, 80's style singalong choruses,indie tunes that make you want to get up and dance along.

This is no nu-rave knock off, this is a band clearly having fun and mixing great style tempos doing their own thing. Definately check this band out as not only are they great live (Flaming Lips fun with streamers, tickertape etc) Buy this album as it is a gem. Go on 'Jump in the pool' with Friendly Fires, you won't want to get out for a while!

Something In The Water
Someone must be putting something in the water in Hertfordshire.

Hatfield gave birth to Enter Shikari not too many turns of the moon ago.

Now it is the turn of St Albans with the appearance of a splendid
little ensemble : Messrs MacFarlane, Savidge and Gibson, collectively
(and for as long as they are destined to be) known as Friendly Fires.

The ten tracks which comprise their eponymous debut make a
strong statement. The eighties have clearly left their mark on
these young and impressionable minds.

Mr Prince would appear to have been cited by some as an influence
although I could not detect the small purple one's presence myself.
The Thompson Twins and Orange Juice came to mind on more than
one occasion but it seems unlikely that these young gentlemen are
old enough ever to have heard of them, let alone absorb their style.
That this is a projection of my own is far more probable.

The melodies are strong, the basslines and percussion limber
and often almost danceable.

(Has anyone else noticed how men over forty always
dance with their hands in the air ?).

'On Board' with its funky polyrhythmic ambience
grabs you by the throat in an upbeat and friendly manner.

So too the slap-bass, percussion and synth led party
that is 'Lovesick'. Mr MacFarlane's fluid falsetto gives
Daryl Hall a run for his money - with less wrinkles and
a more sensible haircut.

'Jump In The Pool', with its delicious harmonies and exuberant,
cacophonous energy is a particularly strong highpoint.

So too 'In The Hospital' - more 'Car Wash' than clinic
and all the better for it.

'Photobooth' is a personal favorite for little other reason
than it had all four of my paws tapping at once.

'Ex Lover' rounds things off splendidly with its slightly
off-kilter and elusive melody.

Methinks St Albans has every reason to be proud.

Recommended.