Inspired by a Manchester sign WFANFC take monotone vocals, menacing basslines and the kind of eminently atmospheric tracks you’d expect and turn it into a heaving soundtrack of warehouses and red brick filtered through that virile Manchester sound. Cue a whopping fourteen tracks of Melodic quality controlled instrumentation…
Whilst the album oozes the city’s musical heritage, WFANFCs origins are in Cheshire; still they manage to combine both the city’s dance tendencies and indie fundamentals. It’s experimental, contemplative and considered; never rushing but neither does it drag its feet as so much experimental music does. It’s an album that’s constantly shifting with both the immediacy to create an instant love affair and enough mystery to retain its repeat listening potential.
‘Innocence’ towers over the album with brooding synth swarming like a heavy fog before lapping into raggedy funk percussion and stumbling key changes before imploding in a barrage of guitar The Longcut have made their staple. Slow burning swathes of electronica characterize their sound with tracks like ‘Over’ could be Doves with an electronic edge and ‘So’ equally as easily interpreted as Spiritualized with its sumptuous vocal. Contrastingly ‘The Tape’ is a dreamy 3 minute space of total musical seclusion; ‘Quiet Place’ provides further evidence of their consummate sound scaping ability as vocals fleetingly snake in and out of smoldering arrangements. The lack of structure and said vocals might alienate some but the change in track and mood remains a strong feature.
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Don’t be too concerned by the ease in which WFANFC are compared because the quality of acts aside; it’s a skill to extract the finer aspects and utilise them so effectively. WFANFC are one such band and whilst ‘The Tree’ closes in heartbreakingly dramatic fashion - like a mini epic film score - it’s a fitting finale to a fantastic debut.
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