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At Night We Live - Far Album Review

Posted: 10th June 2010
Review Info
Rating:
4 out of 5
Artist:
Far
Release Date:
7th Jun 2010
Label:
Xtra Mile Recordings
Reviewer:
Patrick McKiernan

Album Review

After a twelve year break since recording their last album (Water and Solutions), anthemic indie pop group 'Far' have returned to familiar pastures with a familiar eleven tracks of familiar material, but this familiarity is more than welcomed

Opening track and lead single 'Deafening' is a moody, anger filled piece of power punk that sets the tone perfectly for what follows. They are not the most inventive of bands, rarely straying too far away from the thrashing drums and heavy chorded guitars that made them so popular but they cannot be accused of not putting any less than 100% into any of their songs. For what it's worth I think their long exile has given them a fresher view point on their musical niche, and it has helped them gain an extra level of maturity to their sound.

A song like 'If You Cared Enough' would not have sounded so natural from them back in the 90's but it works wonderfully here as does the sublime title track 'At Night We Live', a song with a hauntingly subtle guitar motif blended together with a fantastically whispered harmony. Let's not get sidetracked though, as much as the quiet moments are a welcomed new string on their bow its the noise we want and with tracks like 'Dear Enemy', 'Fight Song #16.233,241' and 'Are You Sure?' that provide fantastic adrenaline hits of high level indie rock.

This album should act as a wake up call to all those who have forgotten 'Far' and their deserved place among the top bands in the Country, and provide some much needed competition to a few bands that have become a little bit too lazy with their output in recent times. Far are back, and they're ready to take back all their fans, and a few more. An accomplished return for an always likeable band.

Patrick McKiernan