Three albums in and Federal Charm are going through that tricky process of changing their singer. We all know the sort of feelings that throws up with fans but in all honesty all it took was a minute of the first song, the Rival Sons-like ‘Swing Sinner’ to make me feel comfortable that Tom Guyer (who replaces Nick Bowden) is a nice fit for Stockport’s finest.
Turning to the presser: “For ‘Passenger’, the new line-up wanted to retain Federal Charm’s previous natural sound, but also wanted to create an exciting new sonic platform for the band’s new vocalist, Tom Guyer, to really let loose and show the world what he can do. The band spent more time than any other of their previous albums by developing this material and taking the songs into new territory, tone-wise. Says Bowe, “It’s a heavier album. There was no way to tame the beast.”
It certainly is reaching into slightly different territory and first single ‘Choke’ is a taste of that they can be more elemental and spiky, even ‘Emerald Haze’ that follows has a more modern edge than on previous records, but still retains a nice Thin Lizzy vibe. Wherever you turn though you seem to find a band having fun and enjoying what they do whilst at the same time lyrically making some salient points – ‘Death Rattle’ for example tackles the topic of venues closing which is of course a global phenomenon.
Deeper in ‘Nowhere is Home’ broods, whilst ‘Get Through’ amps it up, exploring that heavier sound. ‘Concrete Creature’ then brings us back to the Blues and seems to reflect a little more of previous albums, ‘Can’t Rule Me’ picks a fight after spilling your pint and ‘Halo’ lands a huge hook while brooding on watching that girl you want from afar – it might just be the most likely track here to stride into the mainstream.
If you think politics and music don’t mix then the venom in ‘Speak Out’ might just change your mind as it gives the current UK government a damned good boot up their well-trousered arses. Of course to make any mark it needs to be a great song, and this is one of the finest here. The final word falls to the rather spacey ‘Parting Words’ which shimmies in its own psychedelically tinged sheen and opens up a hole new door.
This could well be the album that gets the band the wider attention it deserves.