Album Review: The World/Inferno Friendship Society - The Anarchy & The Ecstasy

Not too long ago, a close friend and I became very attached to the cheesetastic sequel to ;Dirty Dancing; Havana Nights'. The latter is set in Cuba and features much dirtier dancing and schmaltz galore, but it’s immensely loveable. The very instant I put this record on, it somehow seemed to capture exactly the mood of that film, sounding like something missing from the soundtrack, so I’m happy to say I was impressed from the off.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this band – the name wasn’t familiar to me but intrigued me nonetheless, and though I had images of doom metal stylings before I did my research the music turned out to be a rather more accessible form of loveably bizarre. Opening track ‘I Am Sick of People Being Sick of my Shit’ is a smoothly intoxicating little number, slithering in on a wave of brass and piano flourishes and garnering instant favour. Following, ‘The Disarming Smile’ is spunky and self-assured, with a gorgeous bass undercurrent finely offset by garish brass and a folk-esque tempo.

‘Thirteen Years Without Peter King’ has a flicker of film noir about it, a dull atmospheric refrain conjuring seductive images of smoky rooms, intrigue and portent, an ambience in turn framed by a dual vocal line. The interplay is gaudy and glamorous, anchoring the song through kaleidoscopic instrumentation as the album unleashes surprise after delightful surprise.

Frontman Jack Terricloth has a delicious voice. As the sole mainstay through the eccentricities of the music, he is suaveness and charm incarnate, lending each song a silky and seductive heart. The boldness of the instrumentation must also be complimented – the artistry and skill involved a rare treat in the traditionally guitar-driven world of alternative music. Gogel Bordello are another band that spring to mind in this area, and one can discern tangible influence upon latter day groups such as Stolen Babies, who have skilfully interbred kooky accompaniments with raw, hard rock.

As the album progresses, ‘The Politics of Passing Out’ takes a more conventional route into feelgood alt-rock territory. It’s decidedly more accessible in terms of pattern and tempo, though no less of a charmer. ‘Jake and Eggers’ continues this trend, hooking a sweetly poppy vocal line to a series of striking musical accessories. The album seems to gather pace as it goes on, becoming steadily more animated and vivacious, colour and craftwork beaming in every chord. By the time it fades out on the effervescent strains of ‘Lean Time for Heroes’ and ‘The Mighty Raritan’, its sunny demeanour ought to have left a considerable mark, so that even if you’re not quite blown away you’ll certainly be given to a bit of dancing.

Overall, this record is a world of fun. It’s bold, adventurous, and refreshing and indeed so diverse in scope and range that one comes away feeling almost well-travelled, whisked on an exotic quest through quirky horizons. The individual elements are exciting and dapper, and as a unit, the entire crew work seamlessly to craft something pastiche yet polished. ‘The Anarchy and The Ecstasy’ is inventive and distinctive, the perfect antidote to anyone seeking a brief diversion from chart fodder or formulaic alternative fare. As a finely executed blast of organised chaos, it’s just what the doctor ordered.

4/5

'The Anarchy & the Ecstasy' by The World/Inferno Friendship Society is released on March 15th on Chunksaah Records.

Official Website
The World/Inferno Friendship Society on MySpace,

Grace Duffy