Released: 16th August 2019
Rating: ★★★★
In the eight years since the last Friendly Fires album, the music landscape has changed immeasurably. Where once they stuck out for their dance-infused indie disco, pop and dad-dancing are now heavily in play. ‘Pala’, released in 2011, expanded on tropical rhythms while keeping the head rush soaring choruses that made their self-titled debut so engaging.
The band have described third record ‘Inflorescent’ as ‘do or die’, and the three lead singles saw them take their dance-infused sound to its logical conclusion, low on wordy choruses and high on hip-shaking beats. While there isn’t a euphoric lift to match the likes of ‘Paris’, the eleven tracks here will provide depth to a live set which is their key strength.‘Heaven Let Me In’ brings in Disclosure in a sign that they’ve planted their flag firmly in the world of dance music after the pop hooks of their early work, and ‘Can’t Wait Forever’ pushes the brass they use live to the front of the production.
After so long in hibernation, it’s great to have Friendly Fires back. Get on your Hawaiian shirt, get down to a show and throw some shapes.
Dillon Eastoe
