January Fire
January Fire just dropped a new album, Ride the Coattails, a 14-track collection of alt-rock and folk-rock tunes.
January Fire
The musical project of singer-songwriter Rob, based in Manchester, England, January Fire emerged in 2017, when Rob decided to try his hand at producing the songs he had written. With little experience in production and mixing, he forged ahead, learning along the way. The initial tracks revolved around guitar, vocals, bass, piano, and strings.
The end result was a 6-track EP, Songs for an Albino Blackbird, released on Spotify, May 2018. At that point, Rob made the decision to go all out. He would produce a full-length album, one he defines as “loosely interlinked by themes,” including a nostalgic sense of the sea and coast, distrust of large corporations, and the emotional sensations engendered by living on an island nation becoming more and more insular as time passes and Brexit approaches.
Ride the Coattails is the album. Recorded in Rob’s studio from May to December 2018, the album went through numerous remixing and remastering sessions, as Rob acquired more relevant expertise. Prior to beginning the album, Rob had a vision in place. He did not want to produce an album consisting of short, punchy tracks. Instead, his idea was to craft an album capable of being listened to as “a coherent whole with variation in style and feel.”
Electro-pop-infused tracks like “Image of Aversion” and “End Dream” introduce a shift in sonic style, thus adding innovative textures while maintaining the thematic integrity.
My favorite track is “Hall of Mirrors” because of its captivating voluptuous feel, dark, but simultaneously almost erotically thrilling.
While working on the album, Rob came to think of himself as a creator rather than a performer. Advances in home studio technology gave him the freedom to shape the music without having to rely on outside assistance. Rob’s personal favorite on the album is “The Images of Youth Will Conquer All,” featuring a stripped down guitar and strings. The song is nostalgic, reflecting memories of teenage holidays at the coast with friends.
Explaining the last track on the album, “A Place Time Left Behind,” Rob says, the song “is something of a departure in style, and probably pays homage to The Divine Comedy and songs like “The Summerhouse” and “Tonight We Fly.” I wanted to end on a more uplifting note but maintain the themes explored throughout the rest of the album.”
Highlights on the album include “Hall of Mirrors,” a deliciously wicked sounding folk-rock number reminiscent of Chris Isaak, full of low-slung sensuous flavors. On this track, although he’s a tenor, Rob’s voice fits somewhere between tenor and baritone, nuanced and delightfully sonorous.”Wastemakers” rides a tasty alt-rock melody with jangly guitars and a shimmering, creamy surface.
“Release History” exudes hints of country blended with alt-rock traveling on momentous horizontal textures. I love the drums on this tune, tight and crisp with sparkling cymbal accents. Both electro tracks, “Image of Aversion” and “End Dream,” radiate dream-pop aspects smooth as glass, elusively comparable to Depeche Mode.
My favorite track is “Hall of Mirrors” because of its captivating voluptuous feel, dark, but simultaneously almost erotically thrilling.
Frankly, Ride the Coattails is superb, rife with potent washes of color, catchy rhythms, and Rob’s marvelous tones. January Fire holds it down!
