Fear the Fives
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | SELF
Music
Press
"...Fear The Fives are simply devastating. This was my second time catching ‘The Fives’ and they appeared to have raised the bar considerably from their last gig in The Captain’s Vest supporting French Wives. It’s hard to describe exactly what the music sounds like but like all the best music it’s derivatives are possibly apparent yet the finished product sounds strangely unique. Charlie Milne’s deep baritone vocals and staccato piano playing stab at pop music’s dark heart while around him the remaining ‘Fives’ produce music that ascends and pulsates with a thrilling accuracy. This is not simple, easily digestible music and it certainly isn’t music that will wash over you to remain in the background like a humming electrical appliance. This is music that demands your attention preformed by a band who appear totally in sync with not only each other, but the nuts and bolts of each descending minor chord and every awkward time signature. If Nick cave was in Muse and they played Kurt Weill songs in Tom Waits bar, then this is what it might sound like. Strange, powerful and complicated, Fear The Fives are a five course meal for people sick of eating fast food." - Glasgow PodcART
Now this is a much needed kick up the backside to the Scottish music scene. Fear The Fives are self-releasing their debut EP and over the course of its three tracks (’Balkan Ekspres,’ ‘Devil’s Tongue’ and ‘No Hurry Home’) they set out their stall like a manifesto like all the best debuts should do. The band are the missing link between Nick Cave and Broken Records (I mean that as a compliment). Three lush songs that beg to be played again and again. Track down a copy whatever it takes. - isthismusic.com
"A great live find" - The Skinny
Tick tock, time is a passing. The days seem to pass slowly as I wait the extinction of the indie rock dinosaur and the return of imagination and style to music but the signs are there. A breath of fresh air from Foxgang, a splash of hope from Punch and the Apostles and now a refreshing slap in the face (!) from four fine gentlemen going by the name of Fear the Fives. To the future!
Might as well start with a contender for a drinking song. Drinking songs are always welcome here and "Balkan Ekspres" would make a good one, throwing Coldplay levels of pomp on to a table full of drunken guys and their tales of sorrow.
Onwards, and with a mighty swagger and not a drop of drink spilled, "Devil's Tongue" bursts out of the speakers to swathe us in more decadent cabaret and campfire psychosis. Consumed by gypsy influences, Fear the Fives bring back the passion missing for so long from music. As for the Bowie does Brel "No Hurry Home", it just reeks of the cigarettes and cheap rum in a dockside bar - saying "I'm doing alright" to yourself when you're not.
As those old American Express adverts used to say "That'll do nicely, sir".
5/5
Review by: Bluesbunny - Bluesbunny
Well now, this is just brilliant.
Imagine if you will a bar on the docks of some Eastern European country, now imagine Nick Cave finding himself in there, signing some sea shanties and drinking songs backed by a band of gypsies. That's pretty much the image conjured up in my head by this EP.
Quite frankly, it's a mental image that's both good enough and more than unique enough to get pass marks for the EP from me.
Happily the songs are also excellent. Opener Balkan Ekspres, which mixes piano led swagger with more tender moments and soaring choruses, before it all goes a bit beautifully mental towards the end.
Devil's Tongue sounds a bit like what The Doors' Alabama Song might be like if The Doors weren't a bit rubbish, and maybe Jarvis Cocker stepped in on vocals. Packed with passion an atmosphere it's a raucous affair that does nothing to dispel the thought of beer tankards being waved in the air.
Finally No Hurry Home is a more downbeat affair, one to round off the evening of drinking, dancing and singing with a mournful torch song, tempered with optimism.
It would be hyperbolic to say the least if I said that I'd never heard anything quite like Fear The Fives, but they certainly sound fresh and different, and they are a very welcome change from yet another indie schmindie band.
I know I have a bit of a reputation for liking everything, but trust me on this one one, this is pretty much an outstanding debut that I'd implore you all to seek out. - Aytunes
Discography
Fear The Fives released their self-titled debut EP for digital download on Monday 3rd May 2010. The three-track EP, recorded in Franz Ferdinand's studio in Glasgow, was engineered by award-winning producer Paul Savage (Mogwai, The Delgados, Franz Ferdinand and many more).
Inspired by the long hot days of a Belgrade summer and too many rainy nights in Glasgow, the gypsy-driven piano, clipped guitars and tankard-swinging rhythms push and pull Charlie Milne’s soulful baritone in a reckless, bruised euphoria. After global economic meltdown and as the lights go out across northern Europe, this post-industrial Balkan rock train might not provide any answers but it’ll at least help you forget some of the questions.
"In a world filled with run of the mill indie bands, Fear the Fives have crafted something unique that should be treasured." - Peenko Music Review
"Fear the Fives bring back the passion missing for so long from music" - Bluesbunny.
"..trust me on this one one, this is pretty much an outstanding debut that I'd implore you all to seek out" - AyeTunes.
Photos
Bio
It was spring 2009, love was most definitely in the air and serial-ex Charlie Milne (The Karelia, Yummy Fur, V-Twin, Stinky Munchkins, Quinn, Suckle, Million Dollar Disco Orchestra) decided it was time for a new romance, and for once – he was going to be the organ grinder. Old School friend Ally Batten was at a loose end after retiring from mine clearing in Angola and signed up on guitar with little thought to the danger involved. Artist, body piercer and card shark Tim Sandys had previously played drums in Stinky Munchkins, so laughed in the face of danger, and in Charlie’s face too, when asked to join on drums, but after a few outrageous promises – he was in. Mildly exotic Icelandic bassist Ragnar Fjölnisson completed the line up after meeting Tim at a poker game. Tim won. Having had to hastily leave Iceland due to financial irregularities it currently looks like Ragnar is unlikely to ever return, especially as he doesn't know how to swim.
Producing a piano-heavy ramshackle mix of ideas and carrying the racket off with far more success than they have any right to, Fear The Fives are out for a good time and want you to come along and join in too. Recently providing a track and performing at the launch event for the excellent Tentracks project, Fear The Fives have also featured twice on Jim Gellatly's Radiomagnetic podcast, causing a stir with their unusual cover of Santa Claus is Coming to Town that made Jim's Alternative Christmas Top 20 and are steadily building a reputation for putting on quite a live show.
Currently they find themselves working on a debut album, having started session in May 2010 at Chem19 with Paul and Jamie Savage. A single is planned for release in September and subsequent showcasing in the UK and Europe to support the release.
If Nick Cave was in Muse and they played Kurt Weill songs in Tom Waits bar, then this is what it might sound like. Strange, powerful and complicated, Fear The Fives are a five course meal for people sick of eating fast food." - Glasgow PodcART.
"A great live find" - TenTracks
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