Album: Funeral For A Friend - Tales Don't Tell Themselves
Returning for their third studio album, Ryan Richards, Darren Smith, Gareth Davies, Kris Coombs-Roberts and Matthew Davies-Kreye, collectively Funeral For A Friend, have produced their most artistic and creative album to date. Led by Matt, FFAF have always strived to improve their work, with Matt saying that he didn’t feel he’d created his best work following the successful second album Hours, they seem to have got it right this time in their own minds, as well as the fans and critics.
This is a concept album, as is the norm nowadays, in which the band narrates stories of the oceans, an idea that came from Matt’s fear of water. The lyrics, titles, first video and artwork all follow the trend of the sea and water. The first single, and opening song to the album, is Into Oblivion (Reunion), a strong statement of confronting your fears and coming through them. Following this is The Great Wide Open, where Matt displays excellent vocals, maturing from earlier FFAF material. Matt’s impressive vocal skills is evident throughout the album, particularly on tracks Open Water, One For The Road, The Sweetest Wave and The Diary, also featuring guest vocals from Lianne Francis.
One song that emerged on the internet weeks before the first single was Out Of Reach, a faster paced, more familiar FFAF sound, in total contrast to the final album track, The Sweetest Wave, a beautifully melodic, soft end to the album. Two other highlighted songs from the album include the catchy, upbeat upcoming single, Walk Away, and my personal current favourite – One For The Road.
The musical progression of FFAF through the albums is clear to hear. From the raw, angst, heavy beginning with Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation, through to the fast paced, emotional and lyrically personal Hours, and now the beautiful, imaginative and harmonic Tales Don’t Tell Themselves. Now receiving chart recognition and plenty of airplay, FFAF are growing up and developing at an exciting rate; this latest offering is a piece of work to be proud of and will result in a good year for Funeral For A Friend.
Verdict: No decent band should stand in the same place for too long, and should always progress with their music. Funeral For A Friend have done just that. From their raw, aggressive debut to Tales Don't Tell Themselves, the songwriting, melodies and character of the band have matured and created one of the most inspiring concept albums of its time.