It’s undeniable that nobody loves touring more than The Faim, so what better way to release an album than in the midst of a UK, Europe and Australian tour. Several songs featured on their upcoming album Talk Talk have been previewed during their live performances, leaving fans restlessly counting down the days until they can hear the album in full.
As we dive head first into The Faim’s second album, we are introduced to Madly, Badly, Fixed which sets expectations high as we explore the theme of love. It is immediately apparent that we are in for a jam-packed ride full of heartwarming songs that demonstrate The Faim’s true potential. Moving onto the popular single The Hills, we are met with both a distinctive drum beat and captivating bassline, before we are ushered into an influential chorus. It doesn’t end there, however, as the attention paid towards the synth in the second half completes the song perfectly and leaves us all in admiration of the production.
Upon entering You (and my Addiction) we are initially treated to another one of The Faim’s memorable guitar melodies, which carry through into the softly soothing song that is The Alchemist, with an added tambourine playing alongside it. The Alchemist shows us a side to The Faim which we haven’t seen much of before. To release this as a single alongside some of their more upbeat songs was certainly a risk, though they definitely pulled it off!
If you’re not impressed already, Life in a Cinema will undoubtedly change your mind. This tune perfectly compliments Josh Raven’s vocal abilities and shows just how powerful and controlled his voice is, making it sound like an anthem intended for arena performances. Continuing on, we hear another unique side of The Faim that we were yet to discover: Faith in Me has a peculiar sound that we found very enjoyable. The arrangement of strings and piano combined with some powerful background vocals has made for a fantastic gospel-sounding song.
As we progress further into the album, we are presented with The Faim’s first single, Ease my Mind which paved the way for the rest of the album. The focus of each band member’s instrument, particularly within the bridge, shows a hint of some pop-punk roots that we recognised from a number of The Faim’s previous releases. Similarly, these sounds can be heard in Flowers as the grungy guitar cooperates with captivating lyrics like “This garden of thoughts is all that we’ve got left, so I’ll carry on with flowers in my head.”
Regressing back to songs that reflect more pop influences, The Faim surprised us with their first ever self-produced track Me Because of You, which was written about “embracing change and letting go of a past version of yourself,” explains Stevie Beerkens. It is evident they could not have chosen a better song to release as their last single in the run up to Talk Talk, as the self-production makes it all that more authentic. Ending the album on a high note, ERA expresses gratitude for everything we have experienced in life while moving onto the next chapter. ERA filled us with nostalgia as we reminisced on everything The Faim have accomplished throughout their career, making Talk Talk an album to remember.
In the end, Talk Talk should not be missed as The Faim have a bright and glorious future ahead of them. Their continued experimentation and growth within their musical style has taught us that The Faim are nowhere near to ending their journey.
10/10
Standout Tracks: Me Because of You, Flowers, Life in a Cinema
For Fans Of: Against the Current, Cemetery Sun, Panic! At The Disco
Written by: Lucy Cheyne
