Album Review: Biffy Clyro - 'Futique'
Biffy Clyro’s 10th album is an introspective vulnerable insight into life as part of the band, refusing to rely wholly on nostalgia.
Only Revolutions has ensured that whatever Biffy Clyro do will always have a special place in my heart; and I’m happy to report that their new album, Futique, fits that bill perfectly. 30 years, ten albums; the band are ready to give us another banger of a record; something that feels primed and ready for the Download or big level arena slots. They’re the big time – using Futique as a reason to be alive.
Eleven songs long – fearsome and indomitable; it kicks off on a high note with A Little Love. It’s been the longest time away for the band that they’ve had over the thirty years – 2021’s The Myth of the Happily Ever After felt almost like a swansong. It’s a reflection period – James Johnston even spent this period bedbound. It’s with heavy heart that the trio of Simon Neil, James and Ben bring Futique back to the forefront as an exploration of ideas and objects or relationships that exist over time: “this ain’t utopia, but it’s better than hell,” first track A Little Love kicks off – “with a little love, we can conquer it all / if you’re honest we can defeat them all / can somebody help me? / I can’t do this on my own,” and it feels almost safe and clean at times – a touch poppier than the rawer sound that we’ve come to expect from Biffy in the past. The production is a tad underwhelming but it’s hard not to fall in love with this track’s catchy chorus, stadium ready and never more engrossing. The longing is instantly relevant and it’s hard not to enjoy – and it feels like a culmination of what Biffy is as a band. Fans of Talking Heads will recognise the style of this track – and it feels like the band are using it as a benchmark to establish something new.
Like any long-term relationship challenges along the way have kept Biffy Clyro as a band close-knit and together. Their origin days of playing scrappy, raw and unfiltered Nirvana covers in a garage at 15 feels like a lifetime ago. That’s present on second track; Hunting Season – if you put your head up; someone will shoot you down, everyone’s got an opinion and everyone feels like they have to tell you it. “you’re a pump action fella with an addiction to the show / so come on / give it to me / I’ll play along / give it to me”; Neil sings – and it’s an instant conversion for those who weren’t won over by A Little Love. This is pure; raw Biffy Clyro at their best – channelling Viagra Boys, early Muse – even The Hives whilst keeping their unique sound. Well aware of their band in the spotlight; “Just a number so they hunt you down…” and it’s clearly an aggressive cornerstone of a track that shines with its pre-choruses and final breakdown – a resounding success at the heart of the album. What a fantastic outro – it’s easily my favourite track of the record. Not bad for the second song. If you ever felt the need to people please but rather remain true to yourself; this is your new favourite anthem.
It's Biffy swinging at the fences and seeing what sticks – True Believer again taps into the idea of what it means to be a band member existing in Biffy Clyro and returning to the band after such a long time away. There is never anything about religious faith here – instead, it is all about having faith in your own decisions and that they’ll pay off; religious imagery is rather repurposed as a metaphor for vulnerable emotions. Everybody has to make big decisions in parts of their lives – and you’ll ask yourself later “why did I make that decision?”. Yet True Believer is instead a reaffirmation – Neil claims that he knew exactly what he was doing at the time; and love is the only thing he has conditional faith in – and that drives both relationships and music. It feels cinematic and deeply flowing – the drums are triumphant and complex, and the xylophone chords puncture the heart and core.
I really liked Goodbye, a record that feels to exist in a time before the break-up, a farewell ballad– a challenging emphasis on wellness and mental health connection that Biffy has brought to the table has rarely felt so personal before – so aimed at their own band members - “I’m out of reach / you’re out of bed” calls James’ struggles to bear head on. “the more that I do it becomes habitual” highlights the circle of repetition and getting stuck in bad habits; existing in the void that surrounds Biffy as a band. “Goodbye my love forever but it hurts…” Simon sings – tapping into relationships both platonic and romantic with the equally brilliant Friendshipping, a real tune and a half – we’re back in free-flowing, arena mode. Biffy can slow down from time to time and they do just that with A Thousand One, about the fallout of lost love and the mistakes that got us there. I liked the piano influences of John Carpenter that feel ever present on Two People in Love – another highlight.
This is Biffy operating in their own sphere; uniquely confident and self-assured with the experience they have and their personal struggles front and centre. After a shaky start to their tenth album they quickly find their form – and it without a doubt feels like a triumphant celebration of them offering something new to the table when at album ten, most bands would be stuck in cash-grab mode. It’s an album that deeply resonates – with both the band and its fans; and is sure to be a highlight of the gigging year.
Words by Miles Milton-Jefferies
