End of Fashion - Book of Lies (2008)

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When End of Fashion burst onto the Australian music scene in 2003 with their lush ballad "Rough Diamonds" it was to a very attentive and interested audience.

The Perth quartet became yet another discovery in the growing and enviable WA music goldmine. Here was a band that completely ignored the rock revival of the time in favour of an infectious and charming blend of pop and rock songs.

In 2005 End of Fashion released their self titled debut which spawned the hits Oh Yeah, The Game and Too Careful.

The infectious, lively singles set a standard for the band as capable of coming up with memorable melodies and high energy pop-rock with a jagged edge. In short, they created a lot to live up to for their follow up album.

Three years after their debut, End of Fashion emerge with "Book of Lies", their second album which documents the new musical terrain, unexpected collaborations and life journeys the band undertook during their lengthy hiatus.

It is also an album on which End of Fashion live up to any standards they set for themselves and easily exceed them.

"Book of Lies" is a sharper, more consistent and downright blazing collection of songs.

There is more depth and layers to be found throughout the recording, reflecting an element of growth and a positive yet natural progression from the last record.

Kamikaze and Biscit are clear descendants of The Game : frenetic, energetic and with that raw edge that has at times defined this band.

Nostalgic and romantic inferences coupled with warm tones also remain a strength for the band.

On Force of Habit vocalist Justin Burford sings oh-so-yearningly ".. If we agree on anything I hope it's that we still want the good life / a change of habit, a change of clothes / remember when we got caught stealing, remember when we had that feeling / all the time.. you are far away,, you are so far away... " - above a semi ballad, increasing melodic musical arrangement.

"Book of Lies" was recorded at home in Perth by high profile producer Magoo, who also worked on their debut EP, and fellow Perth muso Andy Lawson (The Avenues). However the connection to America still remains in a lesser form than on their debut record (which was fully recorded in the States).

That is because Burford spent time in the bustling surrounds of New York to 'get lost in a big city and stumble upon inspiration' and find distraction from personal experiences. The result is an album that is bigger sounding, has diverse compositions and holds deeper thoughts.

Collaborations with other musicians also provided End of Fashion with a different creative approach : Burford and Lawson experimented with vocal arrangements during the albums recording which surface as a range of vocal styles appearing throughout and Dying For You, a standard pop track with a heavy dark bass and spacey vocals, was co-written with The Preset's Justin Hamilton.

Lead single, Fussy, introduces rarely heard horns in the band's music - while Bullets is a courageous trek into epic, anthemic territory, complete with orchestral backing vocals and a big, sparse sound.

End of Fashion prove they are at the top of their game when it comes to straightforward rock - pop with songs like Kamikaze and the gloriously delightful and addictive Exotica.

After showing potential on their past EPs and debut album, End of Fashion build on this on "Book of Lies" in what is a very positive step for the band.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

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