Frauds – Long Spoons

Frauds are what I like to call an anti melodic band, they are promoted as being post-punk, but as followers of my writing will know, post-punk is a label that makes no real sense to me, after punk could be anything from Duran Duran to Beck or even Steps if you really want to get literal, so no I don’t like this so called genre label. 

Let’s start by saying Those Fucking Snowflakes, yes this is what the immediate reaction to the musical sound that kicked off this album ‘Opening Banquet’ being said song, and if you have never listened to TFS then go check them out.  As you delve deeper into this album though, you are well aware that it never takes it self 100% seriously yet has a very serious sound, the influence of grime and hip-hop has, although not in an obviously direct way, has found its way into the bands style, ‘Money Honey’ does kind of have a choppy lyrical feel that shows a marginally hip-hop rhythm, then for ‘Woke Life’ your aware of the grime that has fed its way into a very satirical song.

Is this an album that you can put on and love from the off, no would be my answer, yet it has a longevity that will have you looking back at it in months to come, hidden gems that after some listens will give you pleasure, ‘Tell Her You Miss Her’, ‘Ships’ and ‘Copenhagen’ fit this bill, although ‘Sweet Martha’ and ‘Delorian’ are easily forgotten, the latter being musically great, but do I get the lyrical content, No.

If your a fan of music that challenges you, has a complexity that some how might elude you on the first 5 listens, has a place in your “I wonder if they are better live” category, then go check them out, don’t be fooled by that post-punk label, I’d say post Rock n Roll maybe.

Out via Alcopop! Records on October 1st

Check out the band on their FACEBOOK