Admiral Fallow
Album: Tiny Rewards
Label: Nettwerk
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.admiralfallow.com

Album number 3 from Admiral Fallow will be an eye opener for long term fans. Gone are the acoustic guitars and jollification that were at the forefront of debut album 'Boots Met My Face' and its follow up 'Tree Bursts Into Snow' and in their place is a myriad of soundscapes and experiments with subtle electronics.

Anyone expecting the instant folk/pop rush of 'Squealing Pigs' or 'Guest of The Government' will be disappointed but that's not to say 'Tiny Rewards' is a poor relation by any means. It's a brave and considered change in direction and one which is, in the main, beautifully recognised. Where previous songs jumped out and bore fruit right in front of you, the content now has to be worked for and to that end it absolutely deserves the attention that it craves. For every small, tinkering introduction there's a huge pay off at the end but you have to take on board several layers of sound before it all comes together and takes shape.

Take 'Evangeline' for example. The lyrics are built on thoughts of what it would be like to become a parent with a ponderous and percussive intro which is joined by stilted guitar before blossoming into a mass of vocal layers with the, now familiar, clarinet of Kevin Brolly providing the crescendo. It's quite glorious in its inception and is the best example of what Admiral Fallow appear to be aiming for sonically.

There's a sense of introspection and reflection that flows throughout the album thematically which is not unexpected of group heading towards a decade as a collective and also sniffing round the bare edges of turning 30 individually. 'Tiny Rewards ' is often gently uplifting, occasionally wistful and melancholic but always interesting and to that end Admiral Fallow can consider this a successful experiment.

'Tiny Rewards' will take more than a few spins to get your head round but stick with it and the warmth of its slow burning embrace will gather you in eventually.

Rob Fearnley