Fairchild Republic – Wish Upon A Paper Crane (15/08/2012)
Local rockers Fairchild Republic’s full-length debut album has been a long time in the making, but doesn’t disappoint. Setting out to write a rock album that creates a strong emotional journey for the audience, they have well and truly succeeded. The richly emotive lyrics build up stories of love and loss that have been captured perfectly in the vocals and musical arrangement.
Opening with the three singles, Wish Upon A Paper Crane starts off on an ambitious note and highlights the strengths of the band. Arcadia, the first track and single, to put it simply, is incredibly infectious. The drums and bass create a fast-paced rhythm that pushes the song forward even through the slower moments. The guitar and keys weave around each other, their melody blending in naturally with Adam Lyons’ vocals.
Following on, Villages and Stay Young continue the beat driven tempo of Arcadia and highlight the variations across the band’s sounds. Villages features comparatively heavy drums with keys and synth creating a striking and memorable melody. The song has a slightly eerie tone created by the synth notes which is enhanced by the vocals and the later inclusion of the guitar in the melody. On the other hand, Stay Young strongly features the guitar and keys, forming a piano rock song similar to the works of Jack’s Mannequin. Despite being the quietest of the three singles, Stay Young creates its own strength with Lyons’ voice showing its full potential and the rich lyrical journey.
As one of the most emotionally touching songs off the album, Heavy Hearts truly encompasses Fairchild Republic’s aim to create a strongly emotive album. The lyrics explore falling in love from the perspective of a rather awkward and realistic protagonist and captures a relatable and heart-warming story. Lyons’ powerful vocals blend perfectly into the story of the lyrics, creating a bridge between the emotions of the words and the music. The musical arrangement balances with the emotional changes across the song with fluid transitions between quiet piano moments to the drum and guitar heavy chorus.
Wish Upon A Paper Crane is a fluid and beautifully balanced album that captures the energy of a rock band with the emotional journey of a piano ballad. This is definitely an album that everyone should keep an eye out for after its launch on August 23rd.
Bethany Williams
Opening with the three singles, Wish Upon A Paper Crane starts off on an ambitious note and highlights the strengths of the band. Arcadia, the first track and single, to put it simply, is incredibly infectious. The drums and bass create a fast-paced rhythm that pushes the song forward even through the slower moments. The guitar and keys weave around each other, their melody blending in naturally with Adam Lyons’ vocals.
Following on, Villages and Stay Young continue the beat driven tempo of Arcadia and highlight the variations across the band’s sounds. Villages features comparatively heavy drums with keys and synth creating a striking and memorable melody. The song has a slightly eerie tone created by the synth notes which is enhanced by the vocals and the later inclusion of the guitar in the melody. On the other hand, Stay Young strongly features the guitar and keys, forming a piano rock song similar to the works of Jack’s Mannequin. Despite being the quietest of the three singles, Stay Young creates its own strength with Lyons’ voice showing its full potential and the rich lyrical journey.
As one of the most emotionally touching songs off the album, Heavy Hearts truly encompasses Fairchild Republic’s aim to create a strongly emotive album. The lyrics explore falling in love from the perspective of a rather awkward and realistic protagonist and captures a relatable and heart-warming story. Lyons’ powerful vocals blend perfectly into the story of the lyrics, creating a bridge between the emotions of the words and the music. The musical arrangement balances with the emotional changes across the song with fluid transitions between quiet piano moments to the drum and guitar heavy chorus.
Wish Upon A Paper Crane is a fluid and beautifully balanced album that captures the energy of a rock band with the emotional journey of a piano ballad. This is definitely an album that everyone should keep an eye out for after its launch on August 23rd.
Bethany Williams