It remains something of a surprise, given the huge critical and commercial success of Fleet Foxes’ self-titled debut, that the band – fronted by Robin Pecknold - haven’t exactly been prolific since. The release of their critically-acclaimed sophomore LP, ‘Helplessness Blues’, in 2011 was followed by the departure of drummer Josh Tillman (now masquerading as Father John Misty) and a recently-ended hiatus that found Pecknold enrolled to study at Columbia University.
Which brings us to ‘Crack-Up’, a third album that lands a short eternity after its predecessor. It opens with a delicious musical triptych, I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar, which morphs from slowcore experimentation into the harmony-drenched chimes of a more traditional Fleet Foxes sound.
Throughout the album, more and more levels become apparent. Pecknold discusses personal, academic and political battles and, while that may not seem like a particularly enticing backbone on an album of such sonic splendour, it’s much more rewarding for it. Anyone who has deserted the band for a taste of Father John Misty’s biting wit would do well to give ‘Crack-Up’ a fighting chance.
There are flashes of the band of old, especially in the stripped-back Kept Woman and the lush soundscape of Fool’s Errand, but even they seem to have been given something of a makeover both instrumentally and in terms of their frequent time signature changes and bass-heavy, thick production.
There are stops, starts and frequent stabs of guitar peppered across the record that grab your attention when things are starting to sound a little stale. The title track, which closes proceedings, shows a band who are at the height of adhesion as a group.
It’s easy to see how Fleet Foxes (Pecknold in particular) have progressed since the early Myspace days leading up to their debut. Even though this record is unlikely to see them lifted out of the folk-rock pigeonhole, there is so much more to them now. This isn’t a singles record and there is no challenger to White Winter Hymnal’s crown in terms of accessibility, but who wants another dozen of those?
Any album that can throw a curveball like the opener here deserves effort on the part of the listener to get to the bottom of what is going through the writer’s mind. I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar contains a small sample of White Winter Hymnal being covered by what appears to be a college band - it’s maybe a dig at Fleet Foxes’ own songwriting capabilities 10 years ago and a nod towards the more accomplished fare on offer here. Who knows? Well, Pecknold and company clearly do, and it’s working out nicely for them.
Fleet Foxes Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue July 11 2017 - CORK Opera House
Wed July 12 2017 - CORK Opera House
Thu July 13 2017 - DUBLIN Iveagh Gardens
Fri July 14 2017 - DUBLIN Iveagh Gardens
Thu November 23 2017 - MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Sun November 26 2017 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
Mon November 27 2017 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
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