The Family Rain - Under The Volcano album review

After months of hype, debut album Under The Volcano by Bath's The Family Rain is finally out of the studio and onto the shelves. The deluxe version comprises of thirteen songs, kicking off with Carnival, which they previously released a different version of as a free download early last year. The new version (from the album) is less frantic and seemingly more mature, with added "ooooh"s for effect. Personally, I prefer the original version; raw and gritty, just how I like it, although the new one seems more fitting with the album. Next up are singles Trust Me... I'm A Genius and Feel Better (FRANK), both of which are fast-paced, in line with most of the rest of the record, and include kick-ass riffs from all members of the band, each making you want to move as much as the other.
In contrast to this, fourth track Don't Waste Your Time provides the darkest moment of the album; a slower affair, it's the song that makes you stop and think amidst the raucous of the rest. Frontman Will Walter, with backing vocals from his brothers, repeats the lyric "Don't waste your time on me, I will only let you down" with increasing intensity, until you start to believe it. Intriguingly, this track seems to have stemmed from the hidden track from the Trust Me... I'm A Genius 7" record, entitled Memento, which is INCREDIBLY dark and intense (I love it), even more so than the album track.
Following this are Reason To Die, accompanied by Kasabian-esque wails, and the extremely melodic Binocular and On My Back. Binocular is an oxymoron in a song - an upbeat, happy-happy tune but with lyrics that, in my eyes, tell the tale of a break-up which resulted in one party stalking the other, through his binoculars. Creepy.

The extremely catchy Pushing It is next, followed by slow-starter Together, one of the more forgettable tracks from the record, and then my personal favourite All The Best. The latter is a song full of sentiment and feeling, one that would be a brilliant gig-closer as it would probably provoke a huge, festival style singalong to Will's crooning of "When my world is ending / And I'm dealt a final breath / I will fill my lungs for one last time / And wish you all the best."
The penultimate two tracks are White Marble Soup, which I could imagine being sung by an old American swinging on his rocking chair on his porch with a straw hat on, and Alexander, about someone (called Alexander, funnily enough) whose mother has died, but he doesn't mind because she left him some money in her will. How lovely.
Finally is another previous single, Friction; whining guitar riffs and handclaps included, it is a well chosen end to a marvellous album from the brothers from Bath. I would recommend this album to all those who have not listened to The Family Rain yet, and, of course, all those who have. Written by Molly McGrath

7.5/10

The Family Rain interview

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing brothers Will, Ollie and Tim Walter, aka blues-rock band The Family Rain from Bath. As a band they are becoming increasingly well known, thanks in part to supporting some pretty big names on tour in 2013, and much excitement is surrounding the upcoming release of their debut album. The interview went a lot like this:

Firstly, hello and thank you for taking the time to do this! For those who don't know, you're a band of three brothers, but does the musical talent run through your family or were you the first generation to pick up an instrument?

"Hey, no problem! As far as we know we were the first generation to actually pick up instruments, although we come from a family of music lovers."

How does being brothers affect the songwriting process? On the other hand, does being in a band together affect your relationship as brothers?

"I think it probably makes it easier because of how open and honest we can be with each other. There is also no room for egos between us which is another good thing. Being in a band with each other has probably kept us closer together as brothers than we would have been otherwise."

Supporting Miles Kane and Jake Bugg on their recent tours must have been very exciting for an up and coming band such as yourselves, but if you could choose ANYBODY to go on tour with, who would it be?

"A band we supported for two shows in the summer who we would love to tour with is Biffy Clyro. They are a formidable live band as well as being great guys and being on tour with them would be a great experience."

     

Biffy Clyro

If you had the ability to go to any country and play at any venue on this tour with said artist, where would it be and why?

"Well, for obvious reasons when it comes to Biffy it would be Scotland! Although you're giving us the chance to go anywhere in the world here and as a band we have a soft spot for Mexico, so I'll say Mexico City."

You have a big February coming up, with the release of your debut album. Is there anything else in 2014 that you're really excited about? Festivals? A tour perhaps?

"Yeah, we can't wait for this album to come out! As far of the rest of 2014 goes, we get excited about doing anything to do with this band, if we get to travel to some new places that is always a bonus!"

The 'Under the Volcano' cover art

Your debut album is entitled Under the Volcano. That sounds pretty dangerous to me, so I ask you this: if your house was ever in the midst of a volcanic eruption, what would be the first thing you each saved?

"Haha, I don't know really. We've lived in the same house all our lives so just to see that destroyed by a volcanic eruption would be pretty heartbreaking itself, forget the stuff inside!"

The teardrop symbol on your album appears on the artwork for your singles too - who designed it, and where did the idea come from?

"Everything to do with artwork and graphics is all [drummer] Tim. He designs all our artwork, tour posters etc. The Rain drop logo is pretty self explanatory and we love it because it can go anywhere!"


Interview by Molly McGrath, answers by Ollie Walter from The Family Rain. 

The Family Rain's debut album Under The Volcano is to be released on the 3rd of February. Preorder it here.

Watch the new video for Trust me... I'm a Genius here:

The Family Rain review - Feel Better (FRANK)

The Family Rain review - 'Feel Better (FRANK)'

The Walter brothers - L to R Tim, Will and Ollie

In the past few months twin brothers Will and Tim Walter and older brother Ollie, aka The Family Rain, have been slowly but surely making their way onto the new music radar. Whether you know of them yet or not, it is almost certain that you will in the near future. Their recent support slots with Jake Bugg and Miles Kane have inevitably been building their following and I'm sure many would agree that to see them live is a must. Their undeniable stage presence and energetic Kasabian/Black Keys-esque blues-rock make their way into your head and refuse to leave until you've given the band a thorough listening to. 

New song 'Feel Better (FRANK)' is no different; though more melodic than their previous releases, the crowd-rattling drums and endearing vocals still worm their way inside of you, where brother Ollie's guitar solo accompanied by almost choir-like backing vocals during the breakdown build them up until they burst free, leaving you feeling empowered. The basis of the song become quite clear once you look at the artwork, title ('FRANK' is a clue) and lyrics - lead vocalist Will sings "and it's supposed to make me feel better" - if, in the words of Richard Ashcroft "the drugs don't work", then listening to this band certainly will. Written by Molly McGrath

7/10

Listen to Feel Better (FRANK) here: