Fire Through The Window - Hey! (Sheer Sound, 2009)

When it comes to South African bands, as a general rule, they get an immediate pass from me. I am incurably loyal, to the extent that I will forgive any number of tics and amateurish (perhaps, even, cliched) elements, just for the simple reason that it is local. In a scene that is as small and fickle as the one that we have here, I cannot help it, as, at the end of it all, these people are out there and doing it. And I will support them in
any way that I can

In the interests of full disclosure, Fire Through The Window have an additional advantage, however, as they hail from my home province. I came across this band when their first single "Just Like You Are" was released (and, notably, was later picked up by Apple for iTunes). It is such an incurably catchy song, that I have been keeping on eye out for this group ever since. When I then discovered that they had hired the services of one of the guys of Menomena, to produce on their debut album, well, they need do nothing more to have my admiration. I dearly wish that Menomena would get their debut album, I Am The Fun Blame Monster, back into print, as it remains an all time favourite of mine. Having said that, Friend and Foe is certainly not something to be sneered at. But, I digress, as the mere fact that FTTW would obtain the services of someone like this speaks volumes.

This is their second album, which is also garnering some well deserved attention, with their single "Do Do Do", popping up on MTV with some quite pleasing regularity. It would appear that this band is going places, and from what I can hear from the album, it seems to be well deserved.

For those that may remember, Marc De La Querra was a member of the Durban band, Nemesis (which, due to contractual wranglings, later became the Nemesis Army). The group is the brainchild of De La Querra and Sinead Dennis, a long time couple, and for whom De La Querra had decided to write a few serenading songs. When he discovered that Dennis was fairly handy on the vocals, the band was created, and things seem
to have snowballed from there.

And before anyone even thinks it, believe it or not, Durban actually does have a scene apart from its predominant roots in punk (although, is it my impression, or does this seem to be fading ever so slightly, what with the rise of the Willowvale, and a, seeming, growing awareness of indie?) In truth, Durban is a small scene, but, I live in hope, especially with bands such as the City Bowl Mizers and Fire Through The Window.

Stylistically, I can hear certain elements of the City Bowl Mizers in some of the guitar work of this album, however, FTTW, trade more in the upbeat indie pop world- delivering their mostly sweet, romantic tunes, with the giddiness of an artist like Brighton's Los Campesinos!. The guitars are chopped and bouncy, the rhythms cheerful, and De La Querra and Dennis duel on the boy-girl exchange, even although Dennis does take the majority of the vocal duties. Imagine the jangle of a band such as Sixpence None The Richer, but fed through indie rock mill in something akin to 1997, with a little bit of the adult romance of a band such as Sheffield's The Slow Club. It makes for a heady summertime mix, and for any amongst you looking for
mix-tape songs, well this is a pretty good place to start.

What is also pleasing to hear is the way in which the album develops, and reveals itself with every successive play. The opening songs indulge in the band's pop tendencies, working on the bounce of guitars, before later tracks reveal vaguely grunge roots, with some fun takes on punk beats. In other words, the bands plays to their strengths, utilizing subtle changes but remaining always true to their core sound. The songs are sweet, but not twee, and coil their way into your mind like only certain songs can.

The quality of SA artists seems to be rapidly improving, and for a change, it is nice to have to say that a local band doesn't fall into the category of amateur upstarts. FTTW seem to be at forefront of ushering in a whole new scene, and with work as good as this, I hope it isn't long before they get the proper attention they deserve.