THE FIRE & I - Just Face It CD Single

The title tracks roars in, stops, roars again and then strides out and upwards as lurching rock solid drums and softly strung vocals mix with twangy bass, the odd burst of backing vocal and then suddenly the track launches into this uplifting chorus and backing vocals before the whole thing goes higher in a blaze of guitars and wordless backing vocals. It then drops to earth as the flowing vocal returns to the sedate verse as the whole thing then climbs once more towards the heights of the chorus, and all this within the first minute of the track. To say there's a lot of ingredients here is understating the matter – there's even a piano somewhere there in the mix, fer chrissakes - but when you see the whole that these ingredients create, then the process is more than worth while as this anthemic mix of blistering choruses and introspective verses is embellished with crunchy drums, pounding bass and searing riffs as the multi-part vocals prove the focus of attention. On paper, this isn't what you'd class as commercial in any way, although the chorus is a tad “football anthem”, and yet it is exactly that – the sort of song that grows and grows and grows on you for the reason that it's done so well, sounds so different from most of what's around right now and, somehow, works a treat. “Revenge” also surges into life only this time with a “Song 2”-esque bass and crunchy guitars before following a similar path to the previous track, only this time more intense, with much more swing and a more “couldn't give a toss” attitude to the vocals, as a snarl of a lead vocal and more multi-part harmonies as well as multi-tracked lead vocals, all combine with the guitars and rhythm section as it all climbs inexorably upwards to commanding effect. “The Beginning” also features a pounding bass line, driving drumming, burning guitar riffs as undercurrents and, this time, a similar arrangement to the first track, but here the chorus is much more attention, as what constitutes the best song on the EP, surges into life with much more focus, cohesion and direction. The bass thunders, the guitars surge, the vocals really ring out, lead and multi-tracked, while the shout of the harmony vocals really hits home as the swirling fuzz electric guitar flies on top as the whole band come to an abrupt end. What a way to end what's actually a seriously fine EP – can't wait to hear the other one (they released two CD-EP's at the same time, for some weird reason).

CD Reviews Main Page
Home Page
Dundee Bands Info
Email Andy G