Artist: Fiction Plane
Title: Sparks
Genre: Indie / Alternative / Rock
Release Date: 1st October 2010
Label: Roadrunner Records
Album Review
There is something quintessentially English about FICTION PLANE, their sound reminds of THE POLICE - Joe Sumner’s voice especially, at times so much you could mistake him for STING (so it doesn’t come as a surprise that FP were chosen to be his support act on STING’s Broken Music Tour in 2005 as well as of THE POLICE Reunion Tour two years later on) and some of MADNESS, KAISER CHIEFS - in terms of reviving post-punk sounds and edge. Post-Britpop comes to mind too but unlike COLDPLAY, KEANE and DOVES they have a lot more verve and variety in their arsenal - they have enough oomph to get the big names move on and let the better band through. FICTION PLANE has no stale energy and wet fishiness about it. They show more varied and stronger, more potent sound, there’s a touch of reggae and punk and FICTION PLANE fuse them together astonishingly well, the smart (and Brit-dry) wit in their lyrics leaves their mark too.
‘Out Of My Place’, one of the slower and best songs on the album, melodic, pensive and evocative, the lyrics from the start exhibit the astute ironic bent “I feel alright / Just get out of my face” - the textbook Englishness “I’m alright - even as everything’s collapsing” and as a whole tackles the meaning of violence in the silent treatment. The humour in most of their lyrics is remarkable, it examines a lot of issues in a subtle, unobtrusive and yet powerful way, at the same time the music is lively and light, danceable and you can very easily find yourself singing to their songs. ‘Humanoid’ sums up human condition imaginatively, succinctly and the guitars are more prominent, creating a great atmosphere to the song. ‘Two Sparks’, a tempo of reggae worked into rock - and it sounds effortless and great. ‘Russian LSD’ is a showcase of a song where they utilise reggae to a great effect yet again, it has a jazzy feel too; another aspect that I’ve enjoyed was their reference to the literary masterpiece ‘Master and Margarita’ by Mikhail Bulgakov, and as with the book, the trippy, surreal and imaginative story serves as a socio-political critique.
‘Sparks’ is thoroughly enjoyable album, FICTION PLANE bring a breath of fresh air and lift you up from your seat. Get ready to dance and sing!
Tracklist
01. You Know You're Good (La La La Song) (3.06)
02. Out of My Face (3.59)
03. Push Me Around (4.00)
04. Talking (2.55)
05. Revenge (3.01)
06. Two Sparks (3.12)
07. Tommy (4.39)
08. Humanoid (5.06)
09. Zero (4.37)
10. Russian LSD (6.00)
11. Denied (4.38)
Line-up
Joe Sumner - lead vocals, bass
Seton Daunt - guitar
Pete Wilhoit - drums
Website
http://www.fictionplane.com/home / http://www.myspace.com/fictionplane
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Total: 8 / 10
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