White Rabbits – It’s Frightening (From Daily Echo)

White Rabbits – It’s Frightening

2:43pm Friday 29th January 2010 in Music Reviews

The theory of less is more certainly doesn’t apply to White Rabbits. This six-piece hailing from Columbia, Missouri, produce some of the darkest indie heard since ‘Interpol’ began tugging at our heartstrings.

It’s Frightening is their second studio LP, released last summer in the US and now finally crossing the Atlantic almost three years since their debut Fort Nightly.

The band have been busy on the road with tours supporting the likes of Spoon, The Cribs and Kaiser Chiefs and their record label TBD Records boasts the Kings of the dark and the mysterious; Radiohead themselves.

The album was recorded during some time taken off from their sojourns and everything they have learnt since their conception as far back as 2004 is displayed here.

This is ten tracks of broody yet melodic indie backed up by a whole harmony of interlinking tones and growls produced by at least half of the vocal boxes present in the studio.

Perhaps most notable is their preference for percussion, often making use of two drum kits. Album opener ‘Percussion Gun’ shows what they can do and the track is a mix of booming thumps and thwacks strung along by guitar and vocals which creates a complex basket of sound.

Lionesse sounds just like a Radiohead number. It’s the likes of the Brit kings and The Specials this group look to for inspiration and it often shows in their music.

This is by far the best release since before the Christmas slump and at only half an hour long leaves you wanting more. A top album.

LEIGH SANDERS Rating: 4/5