We Aeronauts 8.30

Broadcast 2000 9.15

Forest Fire 10.15

 

"Forest Fire have been described as a punk band playing folk songs, and they do indeed have the ramshackle quality of a lo-fi garage unit thrashing and bashing their way through their set. But sometimes they sound as ragged and electric, as fast and loose, as an alt-country quartet, or they can, as on Promise, drone and wail sax-ily like one of your favourite New York (or proto-punk Detroit) bands past or present. But on a song such as 'Through My Gloves' there are also skronky free-jazz elements, including dissonant brass and woodwind, that make them resemble the Plastic Ono Band artfully disassembling the work of Fairport Convention.

'Sunshine City' could be one of the fractured, dirge-like beauties from Big Star's Sister, Lovers while 'Echoes Coming' is straighter, sweeter and more simply Byrds-like. There are tuneful grooves as well as moody atmospherics, with electronic textures to supplement the more organic instrumentation. Throughout, Mark Thresher, the one with the Gatling gun social skills, splashes his acquired-taste Wayne Coyne/Neil-ish whine over the songs like so much vinegar. And there is a general air of beat-poet cool and careless articulacy to the lyrics that heightens the impression of the band as quintessential SoHo bohos." - The Guardian

"A compelling, ragged and romantic album that recalls the Velvet Underground, Morphine, 4 track demos of John Lennon and Come, littered with heartfelt vocals, vibrant bursts of guitar and Mo Tucker-esque drumming." - Drowned in Sound