Frightened Rabbit

This spasmodic Glasgow-based band has steadily increased its ranks, from a two-person organization to three and now more, as its ambitions have necessitated a bigger, wilder sound. Their sophomore album still bears traces of their moniker's implication, with repetitious strumming and vibrato that convey the nervousness of a small animal, but confidence on the part of all involved seems to build throughout the record, along with volume in each tune. Determined to fill up as much space as possible with normally delicate instruments, the band spins out gentle ripples of acoustic guitar and thin but impassioned vocals until they become surprisingly overwhelming.

Frightened Rabbit appears to have little interest in crafting singles, judging from the rhythms of their songs—as on "Keep Yourself Warm," one of the lovelier melodies—, which escalate determinedly as they progress, taking the occasional pause for breath but never reversing direction. In this respect, this group of songwriters obtain an essential earnestness, a deeply felt belief in the power of music and, especially, of live performance to affect the listener. The Midnight Organ Fight is, thus, somewhat lacking in memorable hooks, and it thrashes around uncomfortably when compared to the music of some other Glaswegians, like Belle and Sebastian, but it does have a sweet and sincere core.

—Hillary Brown
04.01.08