Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010)

Review By Liam Tracey

When it comes to music, if you like jumping on the bandwagon before the humble wagon becomes a jumbo jet, then there is little room left to join the existing Frightened Rabbit fans. 

In fact, in little time at all you will be probably wishing you listened more to those tiny indie blogs, who have been praising these Scots for some time, through the release of two previous records no less.

"The Winter of Mixed Drinks" is Frightened Rabbit's third studio offering and, in quite the exciting way, it is both a sign of where the band have come from and where they are heading. 

It provides proof that a band doesn’t need to change their direction to take new creative angles and shows a group of musicians who want, and will very likely have, bigger things.

There is a telling introduction with the album’s opening track, Things. It grinds guitar for a half minute in anticipation, the kind you expect from stadium fillers as they walk onto the biggest of stages. But, instead of taking off in some kind of self glorification, everything remains on the down low (for the time being), with the subtle addition of Scott Hutchison’s familiar Scottish accent quickly reminding the listener that, in fact, Frightened Rabbit are still the smaller band.

The vocals do the creative work on the opener, before brother Grant Hutchison decisively builds his percussion to a climax, solidifying not so much a formula, but an expectation for the remaining dozen tracks.

The lead single, Swim Until You Can’t See Land, was the first track to prick ears to the new album, and it was a significant choice to give a taste of what’s on offer here. The track’s musicality is uplifting to say the least, and sets up the kind of anthem quality the band now wants to portray. 

Whilst many fans might cringe at a comparison to Snow Patrol, it’s not because the likeness is easy, it is because it is appropriate.

On tracks like The Loneliness and the Scream, you can’t help but hear Frightened Rabbit making their way into the grander venues like their fellow Scots.

Upon looking at the reverse of this album, you’d struggle to believe the follow up to "The Midnight Organ Fight" wasn’t also a breakup record, what with titles like Nothing Like You and Not Miserable.

Well, Frightened Rabbit have in fact moved beyond the love loss, and by doing so they’ve produced a more fulfilling group of songs that are as strong in solidarity as they are as a collective.

There are no definitive standouts on this album, which is both uneasy and great. However, from the lengthy and militaristic rhythm of Skip The Youth, through to the colourful, upbeat and speedy Nothing Like You, there are few disappointments, the exception being the band’s attempt at a reprise on Man/Bag of Sand, which unfortunately proves to be filler.

By the album’s end, picking a favourite or highlight is difficult, yes, but does this not mean Frightened Rabbit are able to reach more listeners?

From the Australian side of things, it’s a shame this album didn’t come a few months earlier and with the praising reception it deserves.

Had it done so, the band’s jaunt to the Laneway Festival might have made the choice between them and Mumford & Sons all the more tricky.

Don’t worry though, given the value of "The Winter of Mixed Drinks", one can say with a fair deal of confidence that we’ll be seeing and hearing plenty more from Frightened Rabbit.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Brought To You By The Dwarf