‘…moments of retro pop and orchestral grandeur feel like a peek into a record that never was, dropped in favour of something simply unremarkable…’
Biffy Clyro are a strange band. Based out of Kilmarnok, Scotland, the three-piece have been around for thirty years now, with the same line-up they started with. They have headlined Download, and engaged in arena tours. Their 2009 record ‘Only Revolutions‘ propelled them from the underground to the mainstream of alternative and indie, and since then, the band have been ever-present with their knack for producing crossover hits. Despite all of this, however, it has felt as though Biffy Clyro have never quite achieved the status of alternative rock legends that they perhaps deserve, forever known as that band that produced that really cool 2009 album that your Dad probably likes.
The release cycle of their tenth record, however, has felt somewhat different. Finally in double digits, ‘Futique‘ feels like it has been pushed far more heavily than previous records, seeking to finally give Biffy Clyro that legendary status. Described by vocalist Simon Neil as ‘an exploration of ideas, objects or relationships that exist across time‘, it marks the first full-length from the outfit in just under four years, and their forth record to debut at number one on the UK album charts.
The record starts off on a promising note. ‘A Little Love’ is packed with bombastic verses, decorated with pulsing electronics, which collide with grandiose choruses that embrace an indie-rock style. The bridge is gorgeously put together, with strings working perfectly in tandem with the swell of Neil’s voice to create a sparkling, cinematic experience. Immediately afterwards, however, things unravel a little. ‘Hunting Season’ feels like three separate songs put together, and whilst each of these songs are very good individually, they simply don’t gel all that well together. The heavier moments of snarling punk suddenly transform into arena rock choruses that desperately want you to wave your hands and sing along, and resultantly, neither moment gets time to shine.
‘Shot One’ is a glittering, cinematic affair that slows things down and adds a retro pop sheen to proceedings. It’s compelling performance from the band, with Neil’s harsh vocals contrasting wonderfully with the sparkling instrumentals, whilst the bass lines undulate with gentle groove. ‘Friendshipping’ feels like what ‘Hunting Season’ was aiming to be, with a dark, scrappy, punk undercurrent that is delivered through bold bass lines and punchy riffing. The lyrics, however, are close to dire. ‘Friendships come/Friendships go/Some we miss/And some we don’t‘ is not the sort of lyric you anticipate from a band thirty years into their career, nor from musicians in their mid forties.
On ‘Thousand And One’, Neil’s vocals are genuinely delightful to listen to here, with their muted nature showcasing a far more vulnerable side to him than the rest of the album has permitted. The instrumentals consists of standard country-pop frolicking that is catchy but unremarkable, whilst once again the lyricism is childish and shallow.
Things are elevated somewhat on ‘Woe Is Me, Wow Is You’, with the brooding instrumentals of the verses fully commanding your attention with their theatrical and off-kilter nature. These moments, however, are unfortunately let down by unremarkable choruses and actually irritating backing vocals that chant ‘Stick it out/Stick it out‘ and ‘Promise Me/Promise You‘. It culminates in a track that is begging to be the real highlight of this record, but ends up feeling like two separate musical ideas in a tug-of-war.
For Biffy Clyro superfans, ‘Futique‘ offers another body of work that will appeal. Throw it on, and you’ll find eleven tracks that are certainly Biffy Clyro performing Biffy Clyro music. For anyone who is seeking to see what all of the fuss is about in regards to the Scottish giants, however, ‘Futique‘ will probably leave you with more questions than answers. This is the sound of an arena-rock band, for better or worse, with big hooks, big riffs, and big production value, but little else to really show, and that’s a real shame. The moments of retro pop and orchestral grandeur feel like a peek into a record that never was, dropped in favour of something simply unremarkable yet guaranteed to chart.
‘Futique‘ won’t offend the senses, but it won’t satiate the appetite either. Give it a listen if you have nothing better to do, and you’ll find a couple of tracks worth your time, but don’t expect anything more.
RATING: 68/100 – Mostly Good
For Fans Of: Coldplay, Kasabian, Imagine Dragons, Muse, Keane
Physical copies are available to purchase here.
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