Don’t Go Frightening My Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit Set to Release Singles Box Set

Scottish indie quintet Frightened Rabbit released their latest album, Winter of Mixed Drinks, in March of this year, and followed it with a hearty round of international touring and appearances. As the Selkirk scenesters close the book on 2010 though, a compilation of all the singles from the album in a box set of vinyl seven-inches has just been announced.

The limited edition collection will contain the singles "Swim Until You Can't See Land," "Nothing Like You" and "Living in Colour" and the upcoming "The Loneliness and the Scream."

But this is where it gets really interesting … The B-side of the latest single — "The Loneliness andthe Scream," due out November 22nd in the UK and on December 8th in North America — is a cover of Elton John and Kiki Dee's 1976 hit "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." The Frightened Rabbit version is a duet between Scott Hutchison and the Hold Steady's Craig Finn. (Curiously, the original being the first single I ever purchased. ed)

Hutchison explained the inspiration behind the cover in their press release:

“The B-side has been an idea of mine for a couple of years actually, two guys singing the Elton John/Kiki Dee duet. When I was making a list of the ideal Kikis, Craig Finn was at the top. I couldn't believe it when he agreed to do the part. I imagined it sounding like two drunk guys doing the whole 'I love you, man' speeches towards the end of a drunken night."

The box set will be available via the FatCat Records website and will be limited to only 500 copies. To coincide with the release, Frightened Rabbit will be heading out on a UK tour. See the dates below.

Tour dates:

11/20 Bristol, UK - Anson Rooms
11/21 Manchester, UK - Academy 2
11/22 Newcastle, UK - Northumbria Uni
11/24 Stoke, UK - Sugarmill
11/25 Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
11/26 Exeter, UK - Phoenix Theatre
11/27 Brighton, UK - Komedia
11/29 Leeds, UK - Cockpit
11/30 Wolverhampton, UK - Slade Rooms
12/1 London, UK - Shepherd's Bush Empire
12/3 Glasgow, UK - Barrowlands
12/5 Glasgow, UK - Barrowlands
12/8 Belfast, UK - Empire
12/9 Dublin, Ireland - Academy
12/11 Minehead, UK - All Tomorrow's Parties


FRIGHTENED RABBIT - HEAD ROLLS OFF from Joe Tunmer on Vimeo.

The Winter of Mixed Drinks On the Way

As if the first part of the 2010 new release calendar wasn’t all ready filled with high profile new music releases, Scotland’s Frightened Rabbit has returned, following 2008’s superb The Midnight Organ Fight, with plans to release its third full length record. Titled The Winter of Mixed Drinks early previews are indicating another knockout effort from these talented Scots.
From the Guardian Weekly Podcast

We’ve broadened our horizons sonically and it feels like a natural move forward,” explains lead singer Scott Hutchison. “Most importantly, it’s better than the last one. That’s all I wanted, really.” Again, as if that was even possible!”

The Winter of Mixed Drinks was produced by Peter Katis, at Tarquin Studios in Connecticut, and engineered by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studios in Scotland. It also features a guest appearance from labelmate Hauschka, who provided the album’s string arrangements.The album is scheduled for release on March 1st in the U.K. (via FatCat Records).  A North American release date is still forthcoming. Until then, have a look (and listen) to the first single, “Swim Until You Can’t See Land”.

On the Pop Radar – Three Quick New Music Reviews

Momofuku – Elvis Costello and the Imposters

Despite the fact that it sounds a little profane, Momofuku means "Lucky Peach" in Japanese. The perfect monicker then for either your favourite East Village Noodle Bar and or latest Elvis Costello release. The name suggests a certain languid familiarity in choosing the food and the music that we love. Not unlike a Japanese food menu, the music on Costello’s Momofuku covers a lot of stylistic ground (soul to garage) but remains grounded in the familiar. The album’s opener “No Hiding Place” is a good example of that. It is the sound of Costello making music and a lot of it. As a result it is unquestionably one of the most enjoyable discs he has ever produced. Inspired and very natural it lacks the unified sense of his 2004 release The Delivery Man but has more in common with his 1979 disc, Armed Forces.

By surrounding himself with capable musicians like Rilo Kiley singer Jenny Lewis, former Beachwood Sparks "Farmer" Dave Scher, Jonathan Rice and Los Lobos' David Hidalgo, Costello succeeds in reconciling listener familiarity with the freshness in his musical execution. This is what drives his best music and Momofuku is right up there with that.

Recommended PPPP


Third – Portishead

Portishead will never be termed a particularly prolific band, relying instead on their sense of mystery and certain inconspicuousness to sate the needs of their ‘fandom’. In only their third studio outing since their mid nineties debut, the spaghetti western guitars and wailing organs are back, the ‘dated’ turntable scratches are out. On Third their almost trademark sound formidably replaced by squelchy electronic flourishes and squiggles. Perhaps the perfect counterpoint to Beth Gibbons desolate and sometimes fragile vocals. Be forewarned, this is a very, very dark record. It demands full immersion into its creative depths. A disc that works best when listened to from start to finish. This is the sound of raindrops on the window of the greyest day you can imagine. A harrowing travail to be certain but well worth the journey.

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The Midnight Organ Fight - Frightened Rabbit

At 14 songs, Midnight Organ Fight is a bit onerous to hear all in one sitting. Not that it is a particularly tedious release but rather its dour content becomes emotionally draining relatively quickly. This is not to say it is entirely devoid of humour either. Perhaps this is the essence of a distinctly Scottish musical experience. This phenomenon is not entirely different from the music produced by fellow countrymen the Arab Strap or even the ‘old schooly’ the Jesus and Mary Chain.

One of the best songs on Midnight Organ Fight is opener "Modern Leper". The song is a rhythmically and emotionally powerful piece, the band melding punk aggressions with folk storytelling traditions. These are songs composed in a dank industrial city and this record has that certain griminess at its core. The twinkling keyboards and bits of lyrical humour, the hopeful elements we look for when everything around us is dark.

Not for the unitiated but if you are a fan of the Arab Strap and the Twilight Sad this record will appeal to you.

PPP