Can it really be two decades since the lovable Leesiders gave us sublime indie-pop favourites such as ‘This Is Not A Song’, ‘After All’ and ‘Fashion Crisis Hits New York’, not to mention their inspired version of Tone Loc’s ‘Funky Cold Medina’? The answer lies in the song, ‘20 Years’, taken from this, their sixth studio album and first since the well-received A Renewed Interest In Happiness in 2006. “20 years and we’re still alright,” is the modest boast contained within the lyric, a sentiment with whic few would argue. In fact, on the evidence of the dozen songs here, The Frank And Walters are more than just “alright.”
With its memorable melody and insistent chorus, the opener ‘Indie Love Song’ (the current single) is up there with their finest moments, while elsewhere, perfectly wrought tunes such as ‘That’s Life’ and ‘Each Tree’ are not far behind. There isn’t a weak track here: ‘Slow It Down’ is yet another jangly gem while ‘Unkind’ has an irresistible major to minor bass/guitar riff that stays lodged in the brain long after its three minutes are up. Meanwhile, the heady twang of ‘Loneliness And Sweet Romance’ is the kind of Rickenbacker rockabilly Richard Hawley wouldn’t run scared of, while ‘The Parson’ wouldn’t seem out of place on a Morrissey set-list.
Not all the songs here are effervescent and chirpy. ‘Trust In The Future’ explores weightier themes, while the low-key ‘Berlin’ is almost sombre in tone. All told this is a welcome new instalment from Cork’s finest.