Friends - Late Night Early Morning
by Tommy Gunnarsson
published: 16 / 8 / 2004
Label:
Summerhouse
Format: CD
intro
Strong and impressive uptempo eighth album from long-serving, British-based indie popsters, Friends
When I interviewed Friends frontman William Jones for the Pennyblackmusic Magazine last year he told me that he and Martin Parker were working on a new album, and now it’s finally here! 'Late Night Early Morning' is the eighth full-length offering from this duo, and it follows very much in the same footsteps as their last album, 'Beautiful You'. The opening track, 'After All', is a great upbeat pop song that would have fitted perfectly on any of the 'Sound Of Leamington Spa'-compilations that Berlin-based Firestation label is releasing, and the same can be said about the following song, 'The River Flows'. All in all, this is a very good album, with 'Till I Met You' being the odd track out, a great pop song featuring a very jazzy touch of brass. It sounds kind of strange, but after a while you get used to it, and notice that it’s another enjoyable song. As usual with me, I tend to like the uptempo songs better than the slower ones, and that is the case here too. This said, there’s certainly nothing wrong with the slow ones! If you have read my previous reviews of 'Beautiful You' and also 'Best of Friends', the great compilation that was released last year, maybe you remember me talking a lot about the production, and that it was too slick and radio friendly. Well, even though I have changed my mind a bit when it comes to that, I still get that feeling when I listen to this record too. But a good pop song is always a good pop song! The band is currently planning a tour of Europe, so be sure to catch them if you can!
Track Listing:-
1 After All2 The River Flows
3 Two Strong Arms
4 Some Of TheThings
5 Streetscene
6 Till I Met You
7 Someotherwhere
8 Go Jojo Go
9 Dark Side
10 At The End Of My Life
11 Slow Dissolve
interviews |
Interview (2007) |
In our third interview with them, Sarah Johnson speaks to William Jones from durable indie pop group Friends about the band's just released ninth album, 'Spangleland', and recent return to live work after an absence of nearly 15 years |
Interview with William Jones (2004) |
Interview Part 3 (2003) |
Interview Part 2 (2003) |
Interview Part 1 (2003) |
bandcamp
reviews |
The Zen House (2011) |
Flawed acoustic tenth album from long-term London-based indie-pop outfit, Friends |
Single Friends (2009) |
Spangleland (2007) |
Beautiful You (2002) |
Best Of (2002) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart