Name: General Fiasco
Release: Buildings
Release Date: 22nd March 2010
Label: Infectious
Website: www.myspace.com/generalfiasco
Catchier than the common cold but not nearly as runny, General Fiasco have produced a debut album not to be sniffed at. From the word go, infectious riffs are rife with We Are The Foolish starting as these Northern Irish indie rockers mean to go on. Buildings is an all killer no filler record that simply won’t ever be pegged with the ‘landfill indie’ tag bestowed on many of their breakthrough peers; think more Bombay Bicycle Club than Scouting For Girls.
But don’t think Owen (vox and bass) and Enda Strathern (guitar and vox) and Stephen ‘Leaky’ Leacock (drums) are all danceable pop beats and sugar percussion; angst ridden lyrics from Ever So Shy “You’re ever so shy You keep it aside it’s more than just lies” to the nod to the routine of our generation’s life “Let’s get wasted It’s all we ever do” tick all the right boxes. Carry on further down the track listing to where Dancing With Girls hops in with gritty riffs that defy you to keep your feet on the ground. For me, title track Buildings adds a delightful breather and gives my dancing feet a wee break while showcasing the veritable talents of these edgy youngsters.
After touring with the likes of The Enemy, Pigeon Detectives and Snow Patrol and receiving much coveted support from BBC Radio1 DJ’s Zane Lowe and 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, General Fiasco have certainly laid the right foundations for Buildings to be more Burj Khalifa than bungalow. Their impending support slot on Welsh favourites Kids In Glass Houses UK tour couldn’t have been better selected, as I can’t imagine any KIGH fan not loving these guys. On top of this, the tour will give the trio the platform to push their boundaries and spread the GF love across our island to a prospective fan base who may not yet felt the cwtch round their ears as General Fiasco brand their frontal lobes for life.
With the chemistry of a band of brother and riffs ranging from the rocking to the downright delicate, Buildings is as essential to your iPod as wellies are for Glastonbury Festival.
Reviewer: Jessica Acreman
