Film School - Fission

Film School - Fission
Genre: Shoegaze/Indie
Rating: 5/10
Film School have always been one of those acts that have bubbled under the surface of the mainstream audiences. Their innovative mix of shoegaze and Indie earning them a strong underground or cult following.
This year saw the band release their 4th LP Fission which is as ever is a step in a slightly new direction. Whilst never outright rock and always keen to throw in big harmonies against their usual fuzzy and blurry soundscapes this release sees the band step more towards pop and shoegaze than any other record they have released so far.

The general feel of the record is very hazy as is most shoegaze. Big blurry basslines permeate through against minimalist key work, reverb guitars and dual layered vocal harmonies. For the most part the songs are very upbeat and have a distinct poppy feel to them the intro to "Heart Full Of Pentagons" for example is  almost something you would expect from a boy band until the bassline slinks in. I can't even put into words how relieved I was for the song to move on into an acceptable piece of catchy indie. Unlike last album Hideout there is less variety on offer unfortunately and at times the new harmonic dreamy tunes sound twee and sickly. Whilst pop may not be the bands strong suite they still have a good ear for a lovely harmony and tracks like the brooding "Meet Around 10" sound very reminiscent of the airy shoegaze of previous releases. Other highlights include "Nothing's Mine" which sees Lorelei shine as she takes on lead vocal duties as the bands upbeat sounds are given that extra edge by subtle touches of strings. The only issue other than the sugary pop giving you a mild case of diabetes is that many of the songs do blur into one another and are quite uneventful for example closer "Find You Out" which plods along with no real direction.

In conclusion this album is not exactly pushing all the right buttons but is a decent release from a band who are daring enough to mix it up once in a while. Whilst previous releases may outshine this album it's worth noting that Film School change from record to record so even if this isn't to your liking some other new twist is round the corner. Personally I would recommend their 2007 Hideout to new listeners as it has a better range and greater variety.

Download: "Meet Around 10" "Nothings Mine"