Describing your own music as “baroque harmonic pop jams” appears a rather pretentious statement at best, yet even this understates the depth of Fleet Foxes self titled debut offering. Hailing from Seattle, this quintet embark upon tight effortless vocal harmonies and woozy folk influences. Musically the band has derived influence from the 1960’s giants as well as more traditional pop influences all of which is dealt with in a level of sophistication well beyond their years.
Opening this album with a statement of intent, it starts as it means to go on. With a host of unlikely instruments the results are rather stunning and a complete antithesis to any mainstream indie stadium rock from which they appear to have arisen from. It’s uncanny resemblance to the Beach Boys or CSNY immediately transport you to the Californian beaches before being launched across the Atlantic, and back in time, to ancient Scotland. Some of this music wouldn’t sound out of place on the soundtrack to the Wicker Man. It’s an added joy to listen to an album that is neither ridiculously compressed nor overlong.
Definitely an album where single tracks are impossible to highlight; easier instead to enjoy this album in its entirety. Of course there are flaws, the production seems a little overstretched at times, and the tightness of their vocal harmonies does diminish in places. However, time is on their side. If this is their debut I can’t wait to hear what comes next!
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