Album Review: Filligar - Future Self
Future Self is Filligar’s 8th album.
WORDS BY JAZMIN LEMUS
Indie-rockers, Filligar, are back after a seven-year hiatus with the release of their eighth studio album, Future Self! The album was released this past Friday. I’ll admit that prior to this release, I had no idea of their existence, but I have to say that if you’re in the same place as I am, you might end up comparing them to some bands I’ll mention throughout the piece. To preface it, the 11 tracks may remind listeners of bands such as U2, Kings of Leon, Tame Impala, and Bon Iver.
Although it’s the album opener, “The Force of the Feeling” feels like a piano rock anthem type song that would be a great closing song at a show, especially at an outdoor venue during sunset on a summer night! “17th Hour” features Mina Lauren and is the first song giving us some electronic/synthesizer sounds. Instrumentally, this is where the Tame Impala comparison kicks in. Some listeners may even be reminded a bit of Arcade Fire’s last album, Everything Now, as the song finds itself blending folk and electronic. With “At Sea” being the third track, we continue to hear the electronic/indie sound with an atmospheric melody. “The Fire in the Sun” was the first song on Future Self to remind me of The Airborne Toxic Event, at least in the first minute. It felt a little heavier on the electronic side than it would on a TATE song with what sounds like synthesizers kicking in towards the end followed by clapping to wrap up the song. Speaking of synthesizers, again we have heavy electronic sounds on “Wait A Minute”. Instrumentally, it may remind listeners a bit of Modest Mouse, but a little heavy on the synthesizers. And if you were ever a fan of FAR, you might hear some of their sound in this song too!
“A Walk in the Woods” starts with the acoustic guitar and is later joined in by the cello. At some point in the song, there are some mellow female vocals. At around 1:45, drums quietly kick in and crescendo. The song gets louder as it reaches the end and fades away in the last few seconds. Following “A Walk in the Woods” is “Angel on Earth”, which is a slow song as well, but not as mellow. Instrumentally, it may remind listeners of a mix of bands such as Snow Patrol and Sigur Ros.
"All Around" is a mellow indie tune accompanied by organic folk sounds. “Heartache” has electronic and synthesizers, but also experiments with different percussion sounds. This song reminds me of Phoenix, but also a bit of The Strokes, specifically their song “On The Other Side” off First Impressions of Earth. “Wave Days” is a song with a blend of indie, folk, and alternative with a positive message about “riding the waves to better days”. And with the times we’ve been through, we can use that reminder. Lastly, Future Self ends with “The Parade”. The song starts off with what sounds like the organ and it’s the perfect song to end the album. Because of the vocals, you can almost get a sense of what the song would sound like if it were a cappella.
If you weren’t familiar with Filligar prior to reading this (I still can’t believe I didn’t hear of them before), I highly recommend you go back and check out the rest of their discography AFTER you give Future Self a listen. You can buy and/or stream Future Self HERE.