- Music
- 03 Jun 08
Hotpress On Tour: Fred On Arrival
On their latest LP Cork electro-rock champs Fred channel rustic vibes and hook up with Razorlight's wingman. The resulting album is their finest hour yet.
Fred, the hotly tipped synth-pop outfit from Cork, went back to nature – quite literally – for their latest album, Go, God, Go. Retreating to the rural bliss of Kerry, the band drew inspiration from the natural beauty of the countryside around them.
They also decided to produce the album themselves, before inviting Razorlight/La’s engineer Mark Wallis to oversee the final phases of the recording process. It's an approach that seems to have worked a treat.
“Mark brought all this experience to the table,” says Fred singer Joe O'Leary. “And although he didn’t interfere with the song structures, he did move a string section or repeat it if needed.”
It's the kind of tweaking that can make all the difference. The superb single ‘Skyscrapers’ sets the tone for the rest of the LP, highlighting the influence of bands such as The National on Fred’s sound.
“I've gotten into The National in a big way,” Joe enthuses. “I've also developed a general appreciation of pop and what makes good music. My writing's definitely improved because of it.”
Fred give Go, God, Go a live airing at the Roisin Dubh, Galway (June 1); Dolan’s, Limerick (5); The Pavilion, Cork (6); and Crawdaddy, Dublin (7)
