Friends - Late Night Early Morning

by Tommy Gunnarsson

published: 16 / 8 / 2004

Label: Summerhouse
Format: CD

intro

Strong and impressive uptempo eighth album from long-serving, British-based indie popsters, Friends

When I interviewed Friends frontman William Jones for the Pennyblackmusic Magazine last year he told me that he and Martin Parker were working on a new album, and now it’s finally here! 'Late Night Early Morning' is the eighth full-length offering from this duo, and it follows very much in the same footsteps as their last album, 'Beautiful You'. The opening track, 'After All', is a great upbeat pop song that would have fitted perfectly on any of the 'Sound Of Leamington Spa'-compilations that Berlin-based Firestation label is releasing, and the same can be said about the following song, 'The River Flows'. All in all, this is a very good album, with 'Till I Met You' being the odd track out, a great pop song featuring a very jazzy touch of brass. It sounds kind of strange, but after a while you get used to it, and notice that it’s another enjoyable song. As usual with me, I tend to like the uptempo songs better than the slower ones, and that is the case here too. This said, there’s certainly nothing wrong with the slow ones! If you have read my previous reviews of 'Beautiful You' and also 'Best of Friends', the great compilation that was released last year, maybe you remember me talking a lot about the production, and that it was too slick and radio friendly. Well, even though I have changed my mind a bit when it comes to that, I still get that feeling when I listen to this record too. But a good pop song is always a good pop song! The band is currently planning a tour of Europe, so be sure to catch them if you can!

Track Listing:-

1 After All
2 The River Flows
3 Two Strong Arms
4 Some Of TheThings
5 Streetscene
6 Till I Met You
7 Someotherwhere
8 Go Jojo Go
9 Dark Side
10 At The End Of My Life
11 Slow Dissolve

interviews

Interview (2007)

In our third interview with them, Sarah Johnson speaks to William Jones from durable indie pop group Friends about the band's just released ninth album, 'Spangleland', and recent return to live work after an absence of nearly 15 years

Interview with William Jones (2004)

Interview Part 3 (2003)

Interview Part 2 (2003)

Interview Part 1 (2003)