From the Mid-West of England, FOREST GIANTS serve up a big-sounding guitar band album of creamy tunes with lush additions of sauces and flakes.
FOREST GIANTS aren’t novices and they don’t sound like it. BLUE AEROPLANES and other Bristolian nearly-made-its are implicated in the band's personnel. The full line up has Tim Rippington (guitars and vocals), Ruth Cochrane (bass and keyboards), Tom Adams (drums) and Paula Knight (violin, keyboards and vocals). It’s a good balance of talents and skills.
There's no pretence here to be creating new concepts or challenging any preconceptions. It’s in the mainstream of big juicy tunes, subtle distortions and languorous dance rhythms. Despite the modest pun about the Mid-West, it actually does sound American in the fullness of the sound and the slightly Strokes-cum-Velvet Underground aesthetic. It sounds luxurious while projecting an image of effortless cool.
The good songs are given hooks as well as atmosphere and there are lyrics that have a life of their own. "So You Think That You're Unhappy" at track two is good evidence of all those things. There's a flute-like hook, a sweet guitar line and a chorus with a punch line. "So you think that you’re unhappy (times lots) … I think you’re out of your mind" Hah. Nice put down. It’s what good smart indie pop music is all about.
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"Hurtful" at track 4 makes splendid use of a wind-up guitar phrase, a driving drum track and a confident stream of lyrics that follows a neat melody like a daredevil pilot skimming over a landscape of hills and valleys at about 50 feet. Tim Rippington does just enough to keep you interested in what he's about to song next, but he never shows off or pushes himself. It’s perfect.
My favourite moment on the album is "Stars" at track nine. It has a triumphant guitar introduction and a Lou Reed of a melancholic tune and a lovely swaying chorus. It sets a standard that all the other tunes on the album keep close to. Consistency is one of the several benefits of the band's experience.
www.forestgiants.co.uk
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