Frightened Rabbit Hops Back in March

Hotly tipped indie band to drop new album next March on FatCat.

By Blurt Staff

From the insistent synth buzz that rings throughout album opener, "Things," to the mechanical onslaught that introduces the six-minute centerpiece, "Skip The Youth," Frightened Rabbit's The Winter Of Mixed Drinks, due March 9 on FatCat Records, is the band's exploration into new sonic and thematic terrain. Recorded by Scott Hutchison (vocals/guitar), brother Grant Hutchison (drums), Billy Kennedy (guitar) and Andy Monaghan (guitar/bass/keys), the Scottish lads are now bolstered by fifth member Gordon Skene (formerly of Make Model), who has joined the band to facilitate this new material and flesh out the older tunes live.

The fivesome, who are currently breaking in their new member as they crisscross Scotland on tour, will conclude the year with a hometown headlining show in Glasgow following a handful of dates opening for Modest Mouse in the UK and Ireland. They will return to the U.S. for SXSW in March followed by a headline tour and festival appearances.

The follow-up to their sophomore album, The Midnight Organ Fight, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks comes after nearly two years of incessant touring of both Europe and the States. In April of 2009, frontman Scott Hutchison sought isolation and decamped to the beautiful seaside town of Crail on Scotland's Fife coastline to decompress and write the new record. There, he conjured up lead single, "Swim Until You Can't See Land" which set the course for the theme of the album and inspires the nautical imagery that permeates the album. "'Swim Until You Can't See Land'  takes up where we left off and is central to the new record," reveals Scott.

Produced and mixed once again by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios in Connecticut, and recorded by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studios in Scotland, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks sees the band transistioning from jangly indie-folk to a more expansive sound. The 11-song collection, filled with stunning string arrangements (courtesy of labelmate Hauschka), majestic keys and glitchy electronics, is a more ambitious and confident album than its predecessor.

"Most importantly, I'm happier with this record," proclaims Scott. "Sonically, it's closer than ever to the way I've always wanted Frightened Rabbit to sound."

Whereas the heartbreaking dissolution of Scott's longstanding relationship was detailed on the previous album, he took a different approach to the song writing for the follow-up. "I guess there's still a main protagonist in there but I feel like I'm telling a story this time, as opposed to exposing my innards to the listener," says Scott. Thoughout the album he ruminates on mortality, celebrates recpatured freedom and explores the idea conveyed in "Swim Until You Can't See Land: "It's all about losing your mind in order to reset the mind and the body - forget what's gone before and wash it out."

Track Listing:

1. Things
2. Swim Until You Can't See Land
3. The Loneliness And The Scream
4. The Wrestle
5. Skip The Youth
6. Nothing Like You
7. Man/Bag of Sand
8. Foot Shooter
9. Not Miserable
10. Living In Colour
11. Yes, I Would