Louder Than The Music

The first time I heard about this new album called Fruit Tree was when we published the news on Louder Than The Music that rock bands Bosh and [Dweeb] had joined forces to create a single called Calling.... Fruit Tree as an album which brings together a collection of artists to raise funds and awareness for the charities Trussell Trust and I*EAT.

The Trussell Trust work across the UK feeding people in financial crisis, running over 90 foodbanks, and I*EAT is a charity which helps people with Eating Disorders. To go along side the album there will be a tour, which begins on July 1st in Dorchester and takes in Bournemouth, Salisbury, Lyme Regis, Hook, Exeter and then BOSH and [dweeb] share the stage on the same night at Creation Fest in Wadebridge, Cornwall on Wednesday 10th August.

As well as there being the impressive [dweeb] and Bosh on this album, the album also includes great bands like Alamein's Torch, The Tom Whitman Band, Steve Leach and Adam Oxborrow. These might be familiar to you, or if not you might find some new bands to like. For me, hearing Alamein's Torch with their amazing standout track Meet Me In The Middle which has a soft Elbow feel to it, was a way of finding out about this striking new band. This indie band from Brighton is fronted by non other than Mr Paul Oakley.

Let's get one thing out of the way about this album, as it is a collaboration of bands and singers there is variety of styles and sounds on the album. This sometimes distract from the flow of the album, but Fruit Tree is not that kind of album anyway. I'm a bit of a geek with albums like that. Onto the music, let's start with dweeb's track Living In The Future, this track was a left-over from the Feels Like Dynamite writing sessions, and has been recorded exclusively for Fruit Tree. As this is one of the last times you might hear a new dweeb track before they finish, it's a wonderful opportunity to get the new song on this album. Of course the track has a very dweeb sounding song style with a lot of synth work, but that's what you want from the best band in Europe.

Bosh have a few songs on the album as well as a collaboration with [dweeb]. Rock track Product has a very Led Zeppelin kick to it, the song talks about how reading rubbish gossip magazine's and watching late night TV can affect you in a bad way, this is strong song on the album and one that is very fast and in your face. Another song that is very Bosh sounding is the rocking song Magazine, starting off like an early Travis before they went all acoustic on us (late 90;s).

The majority of this album leans towards the rock style, but within it are a few acoustic guitar tracks worth mentioning, like the amazing With All The Help Of The Alphabet by The Tom Whitman Band. Tom is also from Bournemouth and has been gigging regularly since 2007. He has an album out on Risen Records called 'The Breaking In Of Light' (2009) and is working on a follow up.

There is a great collection of songs on this Fruit Tree album, for me my three standout tracks might be totally different to yours but that's what makes music so great, doesn't it. Working with worthwhile charities, Fruit Tree will not just make great listening for you, it will help make a difference to people around the UK. Please find out more about this album if you have a moment, thank you.

Order the album from the Fruit Tree Bandcamp page.

Review by Jono Davies

LTTM Rating 4.5 out 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
Calling...
Meet Me In The Middle
With All The Help of The Alphabet