As the name of the band would suggest, the spectre of Lloyd Cole And The Commotions (and in particular, of their 12 string-centric debut album Rattlesnakes) hangs heavy over this album. Classic hooks and lyrics are very much the order of the day, along with a clear, crisp production.
Like Cole and his Commotions on Rattlesnakes also, you can hear the ambition, as well as the venom, running right through the whole album. Unlike so many bands these days that seem content to cover and copy their heroes, Forest Fire have a true voice of their own, which they want heard.
That said, influences are evident also. There’s lots of nice fuzziness around the lyrics, which suggest that someone’s got a copy of My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless at home. All in all though, the benefits of both paying attention to their heroes and also intense live activity have paid handsome dividends.
