French Wives - Halloween/Dogfight

Creeping into earshot like next door's violin practice, Halloween is a bit of a slow-burner. Taking it's time to simmer from brittle, twinkling folk into chunky group singalongs, the track eventually settles into what should be a fist-pounding, throat-scraping closer but for some reason, lacks the raw power to tip it fully over the edge. There is however a fragile beauty underpinning French Wives at their most restrained. Their warm blend of harmony and subtle orchestration makes for a charming, and perhaps even comforting listen, which helps add a sense of depth and honesty to an overall timid performance. [Ryan Drever]