When Scotland's Frightened Rabbit first appeared on the
scene in 2006 with Sing the Greys, their
mixture of stripped and grand, intimate & heartfelt, yet also epic, felt
refreshing - and oh-so Scottish.But so strong was it that the band inspired other, similar acts amongst
their countrymen, such The Twilight Sad (QRO live review) and We
Were Promised Jetpacks (QRO live review),
two outfits that joined Rabbit on tour and at FatCat Records.2008 follow-up The Midnight Organ
Fight was similarly strong, but also similar, and the band
threatened to repeat themselves (such as with that year's live Liver! Lung!
FR! - QRO review) and be
repeated, even passed by.Which is
why The Winter of Mixed Drinks gives an
extra smile, as the band grows and brightens their style.
‘Bright’ is not a word one would have associated with
Frightened Rabbit, but the act has never been completely dower Scotsmen.Winter just builds on what sun that does shine over the moors, for a sweeter,
more enjoyable sound.It's
unsurprisingly at its best in the two singles, "Swim Until You Can't See Land"
and "Nothing Like You", plus the track whose lyrics gave the record its name,
"Living In Colour".The brightness
of "Swim", the energy of "Nothing", and the march-up of "Colour" all give
Frightened Rabbit what they needed: a fresh take on the sound they started.
Other pieces on Winter
build, but not to the same heights, like "Things" or "The Loneliness and the
Scream".The slightly indietronic
backbeat to "The Wrestle" is a nice touch, but the vocals are left not as
standout.There's still some wistfulness
in "Skip the Youth", as well as fuzzy expanse to "FootShooter" and closer "Yes,
I Would", but only the orchestral/choral grandeur, mixed with stripped strings,
of "Not Miserable" matches the brightest moments of Winter, as it moves forward & forward.And it's nice to see that FR have already seen their next path, even as they lay down this one.
On their third album, Unkle blast post-apocalypse trip-rock around a darkly affluent guest list. 
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