Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital EP (02/11/2012)
In the lead up to the release of their fourth studio album, Frightened Rabbit’s five-track EP State Hospital is a tie over for the wait. The album shows the band’s growing maturity to their approach in both lyrics and music and a more grandiose attitude to the final production.
As the title track, State Hospital, opens the album with a bridge between the sound of Winter of Mixed Drinks channelling their trademark melancholic storytelling approach while building in their new cinematic musical arrangement. As the only track off the EP set to be used on their upcoming album, State Hospital is a standout amongst the others with the play between the guitars and interwoven synths building to a climatic peak.
As the most cheerful track of the album, Boxing Night is a rather strange balance of an upbeat musical arrangement juxta-posed with the distraught lyrics of love lost. The overall feel of the track is a rather dark song that doesn’t play as a mopey ode to young love, leaving it as a mature approach to a common theme.
Wedding Gloves finishes the album off with Aidan Moffat opening the song with a spoken verse passage. Despite the unique opening, the song builds into another rhythm heavy rock track that blends in with the previous tracks leaving the album finishing off on a bland note rather than a strong one.
While the album might not be the best we’ve heard from Frightened Rabbit, it has created a perfect opportunity to hear more from them than just the final studio album tracks. The EP plays as a well planned if somewhat bland album of melancholic rock songs but certainly fulfils its role of building up some excitement for their upcoming album.
Bethany Williams
As the title track, State Hospital, opens the album with a bridge between the sound of Winter of Mixed Drinks channelling their trademark melancholic storytelling approach while building in their new cinematic musical arrangement. As the only track off the EP set to be used on their upcoming album, State Hospital is a standout amongst the others with the play between the guitars and interwoven synths building to a climatic peak.
As the most cheerful track of the album, Boxing Night is a rather strange balance of an upbeat musical arrangement juxta-posed with the distraught lyrics of love lost. The overall feel of the track is a rather dark song that doesn’t play as a mopey ode to young love, leaving it as a mature approach to a common theme.
Wedding Gloves finishes the album off with Aidan Moffat opening the song with a spoken verse passage. Despite the unique opening, the song builds into another rhythm heavy rock track that blends in with the previous tracks leaving the album finishing off on a bland note rather than a strong one.
While the album might not be the best we’ve heard from Frightened Rabbit, it has created a perfect opportunity to hear more from them than just the final studio album tracks. The EP plays as a well planned if somewhat bland album of melancholic rock songs but certainly fulfils its role of building up some excitement for their upcoming album.
Bethany Williams