BIFFY CLYRO - FUTIQUE
A quietly monumental quality envelops the music of Futique. It is not monumental in the way of excessive bombast or grand spectacle; rather, it possesses a significant essence, accumulating depth and weight with each note.
Within its intricate songs, memory, longing, and growth intertwine, beautifully braided together. This moment finds Biffy Clyro at a poignant stage of deep reflection, one that transcends mere retrospection. They embark on a journey of looking forward by thoughtfully considering the past, exploring how memories from yesteryears linger in our minds, examining the inevitable changes that unfold, and realizing how seemingly small moments gradually transform into experiences we ultimately claim as our own, often only acknowledging their significance much later.
From the very first moments of its listening experience, Futique unmistakably asserts its artistic intent and purpose. The album’s title, an inventive word that artfully intertwines the concepts of “future” and “antique”, effectively establishes the overall tone for a record deeply engaged in exploring the captivating tension between what has been and what is yet to unfold. It encourages us to contemplate the questions surrounding the possessions we hold dear that, in time, will be regarded as treasured memories once they fade from our lives. Moreover, it beckons us to consider the fleeting moments that slip by unnoticed, moments that unknowingly signify the end of something profound. The emotional heart of the album revolves around this poignant awareness, with the songs themselves elegantly weaving around this central theme, encompassing everything from intimate and personal expressions to expansive soundscapes. Yet, throughout it all, they remain consistently attuned to both the feelings of joy and the underlying sorrow that accompanies reflection.
Musically speaking, the record artfully navigates a complex balancing act. There are certain moments when listeners can distinctly hear Biffy returning to familiar territory that they have often explored: these include delicate acoustic passages that evoke a sense of intimacy, soaring choruses that lift the spirit, and the notable contrast between soft, reflective verses and explosive peaks that invigorate the experience. However, it is important to note that this album does not exist solely as comfort music in its entirety. Instead, there is an undercurrent of risk that courses through the tracks. The guitars, when necessary, sound rougher, adding a gritty texture; at the same time, Simon Neil’s voice skillfully interlaces a sense of vulnerability into its inherent fierceness. This creates a palpable tension between clarity and chaos, a polished melody intertwined with a raw edge, which feels perfectly right for a band that is neither desperately trying to prove itself anew nor completely resting on the laurels of its past.
One of the most remarkable strengths of this piece lies in its profound honesty. The lyrics are free from clouding or obfuscation by overly complicated metaphors or any trace of coyness; rather, they exhibit a certain bluntness when addressing themes of love, regret, the intricacies of decision-making, and the inexorable passage of time. Take, for instance, the song ‘True Believer,’ which features a lyric that strikes with a fleeting intensity, capturing your attention: it expresses the poignant realization that as we reflect on our lives and begin to scrutinize the choices we've made in the past, such questioning does not always stem from doubt but rather arises from a place of growth. The notion of faith, faith not only in our decisions but also in others, and crucially, in ourselves, is depicted not as mere naïveté, but as something that is earned through experience, something that truly comes to light through profound reflection and introspection.
Another track, ‘A Little Love,’ forcefully demonstrates this incredible ability to work by contrast: it combines cheerful, upbeat melodies with a feeling of expansiveness, of warmth, and of great vulnerability. Listening to this work is like being enveloped in a supportive hug, and there is, of course, always at least a residual awareness that this warmth will pass. Conversely, there are also tracks in this set that venture into much darker places, these tracks investigate dark sonic landscapes, offering denser textures and more driving rhythms, functioning as a poignant reminder that even life's more delicate and gentle moments possess underlying undercurrents of stress and complication. The arrangements across the disc are made with great attention, expertly dodging unnecessary displays of showiness while still projecting that degree of confidence that keeps them appropriately in check.
The emotive flow of the record rings particularly deliberate and carefully considered. It is anything but a random collection of singles cobbled together out of expediency. Rather, it navigates complex themes such as doubt, reaffirmation, loss, and intimacy in a richly emotive, deeply felt way. Some tracks inspire pain and sorrow, while others seek to lift spirits; at times, a single track strikes a delicate balance upon either both feelings at once. Sorrow often manifests in explicit, direct terms, yet at times it gets interwoven in a richer fabric of appreciation and thanks. This delicate sensibility instills Futique's work with a distinct, unmistakable maturity, one that accepts sorrowful feelings without indulgence in them, one that recognizes life's impermanence without becoming overcome by a general cynicism.
But while much of it demonstrates effective execution and good composition, there are moments in which familiarity of sound crosses over uncomfortably into predictability. The moments of climax and transition at times sound like reinterpretations of old Biffy Clyro favorites that veteran listeners might predict. The dramatic dynamics shifts of that effective chorus, coupled with the effective searing guitar fills that break after soft, breathy phrases, these aspects of the group sound so ably replicated by this late stage that such moments are fairly to be expected by astute ears. In a few of the specific moments of the album, Futique might over-rely upon this tried-and-true sound, and in doing so, will pull moments away from this initial sense of newness and inventiveness that so characterize what it is that this album contains.
Overall, Futique emerges as an album that resonates on a profound level, serving not only as a significant reflection of the current artistic position of Biffy Clyro but also as a body of work imbued with considerable emotional depth and significance. If you grant yourself the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the experience of listening, to pay attention to the subtle nuances, the brief pauses, the delicate cracks, as well as the overwhelming roar of sound, you will discover within it something quite extraordinary: a record that exists in that unique space between what has come before and what is yet to come, uncovering and celebrating the beauty that can be found along that thin line of transition.
Kayla Kerridge
★★★★★