Elly Roberts reviews

Foreign Born: Person To Person

Distributed by
Secretly Canadian Records

Released: June 2009

Rating: 6/10

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The new West Coast sound. Cool, very cool.

LA band Foreign Born seem like an ambitious combo to me. Not only do they have multi-instrumentalists in their midst, they’ve also recruited 18 additional players to supplement their intentions.

With the Fleet Foxes finally taking off especially in the UK, I’m sure it won’t be too long before Foreign Born catch-on as well. For whatever reason, there’s a ‘thing’ now about retro sounding bands (Crosby Stills and Nash proved a point at Glasto recently) with a focus on vocal harmonies like the Fleet Foxes and more recently Grizzly Bear.

On first listen at least, you think Person To Person it isn’t going to be a massive unit-shifter at the shops or online. Then after some rotation, you eventually get sucked into its gorgeousness. Your perspective changes. The hooks, and there are many, circle around the band’s forte – harmony and melody that prevail throughout this often catchy and engaging collection of sumptuous Californian sun-pop, with a difference.

Foreign Born have plenty of punch and style to grab your attention, which starts from the get-go via jangly guitars of big-hitter Blood Oranges, then followed by the bouncy That Old Sun, which I’m sure as Los Angelinos they know quite a bit about. This has all the makings of a crackin’ single. Skip one and we’re into crunchy rocker Winter Games. This heady blast is driven by an angular guitar roll and throbbing drums that pack a real punch, enough to get you dancing even.

After a while, Early Warnings has the same effect. This gem has high-harmonies and a guitar roll that keep you transfixed through its three minutes plus. Taking a step back in pace, Lion’s Share proves to be their most accomplished song so far, not that the others are that bad.

It’s just a bit more sophisticated and measured in every department with those golden harmonies jumping out and slapping across the chops.

The verdict – Better with each spin.

Weblink: myspace.com/foreignborn

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The full list of tracks included are :

1. Blood Oranges 2. That Old Sun 3. Vacationing People 4. Winter Games 5. Early Warnings 6. Can’t Keep Time 7. Lion’s Share 8. It Grew On You 9. See Us Home 10. Wait In This Chair

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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

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