Single Review: Fickle Friends - 'Play'.

 Back in January, Brighton's Fickle Friends fought away our winter blues and post-Christmas comedowns over at our sister site The Sound of Confusion with the introduction of their warm and infectious debut single, 'Swim'; a track that had the blogosphere gleefully championing Nattassia (Natti) Shiner (vox/synth), Sam Morris (drums), Harry Herrington (bass/backing vox), Chris Hall (guitar) and Jack Wilson (synth/backing vox ) of Fickle Friends as ones to watch for 2014. Since then, we've been eagerly anticipating the band's next move, and let's face it, it had to be a good one to at least compare to, if not surpass, the huge positive reception that 'Swim' received.

 Less than 3 months since 'Swim' , the five-piece have confidently unveiled their follow-up single 'Play' released via Killing Moon Records. With a sound that could be mistaken for a mash up of Two Door Cinema Club, Lucy Rose, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Imogen Heap, 'Play' is a clever, eclectic mix of power pop, indie, and 80's new wave disco. Its catchy hooks, groovy bass lines, and sunny vocals are at once uplifting, engaging and understatedly delicate.

"We chose PLAY as lyrically it's kind of a follow on from SWIM. We also wanted to release something that contrasted with our first single musically" explains lead vocalist Natti Shiner and added "It's a little more fragile in parts, but also a bit more…. playful."

“PLAY is about seeing someone who’s losing their passion. It's a continuation of the characters from SWIM. She’s getting nostalgic as he becomes less interested in everything."


With that in mind, take a listen below:

 

Live dates:

April
09 - The Shacklewell Arms (London) (buy tickets)
19 - Springtide Festival (Gosport)
25 - The Boileroom (Guildford)
26 - Jailhouse (Hereford)

May
01 - Sixty Million Postcards (Bournemouth)
02 - Kazimier, Liverpool Sound City (Liverpool)
03 - Wardrobe, Live at Leeds (Leeds)
04 - City Sound Project (Canterbury)
09 - The Great Escape - The Green Door Store (Brighton)

June
20 - Lainfest (Atherstone)

Buy the single 'Play' on  iTunes
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