Wipe the blood from your hands

"I'd rather stick to my ethanol"

His debut album out last year may have not been so successful as it should, even if the reviews were mostly very positive, but no one said that this was a fair world we live in, eh? Even so, Dark Young Hearts confirmed that there is some really special talent in Ben Garrett, and this can once again be seen in his newest video. Filmed as a look behind the door into his world, it features a collage of different frYars' images, with a subtle and twisted sense of humour, adding up even some more meaning into this already very poignant (and quite brilliant) ballad.

www.myspace.com/fryars
www.fryarcorp.com

frYars - Dark Young Hearts

This was something I had been anxiously waiting for at least 2 years and, boy, now that it's here, I can truly say that it has filled all my expectations and then some. First things first, Ben Garret seems to have turned himself intro a true artist: instead of signing with a major label, he has followed the most difficult path and is releasing his debut album all by himself (well, with a little help from Bandstocks, but still...). This has allowed him to take full control of his output, something which is felt all over Dark Young Hearts, and thank God it is like that: everything in here seems too personal and unique to be ruined by external hands, translating in a perfect way how fascinating the private world of frYars is. I've already written about it more than a few times (here, here, here, here and here), so all I can say is that this album seems like a sublimation of what we already knew: Ben has an unique way of presenting his dark and twisted world in the most pleasant way, mixing it with the catchiest electro-pop hooks and melodies. His special voice, a never-ending talent in song-writing and an amazing ear for inserting the most unexpected details in the most unexpected places, all these things do the rest. Ladies and gentlemen, we're in presence of a complete pop monument: strange, intense, slightly obsessed with the macabre, but also fun and touching. And on a side note, if you're not moved by a song like the final track Morning, then you don't have a heart. Fact. (9/10)

frYars - Happy (mp3 via Stereogum)



www.myspace.com/fryars
www.fryarcorp.com

frYars - Olive Eyes (video)

"you have a womb, you shall deliver me a boy"

Good news everyone, frYars debut album Dark Young Hearts is finally being released on the 14th/21st of September. I've been following this guy's work since his second demo The Ides EP was out about 2 years ago, so it's been quite a long wait. But from what I've already heard, be prepared, as it promises to be one of the records of the year, no question. In the meantime, and to make the expectation a bit easier to handle, here's a new video for Olive Eyes, a track that was previously released on last year's The Perfidy EP and has now a new version, which will be one of the many treats included in Dark Young Hearts.

www.fryarcorp.com
www.myspace.com/fryars

frYars (feat. Dave Gahan) - Visitors (video)

"For the price of a human heart it's really not that bad"

Our London boy Ben Garrett (a.k.a. frYars) is never able to disappoint us, and his latest track comes to once again prove this theory right. "Visitors" is a an electro delight with some irresistible dark twisted vibes and featuring the voice of Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode (apparently he was in a nearby studio when the song was being remastered, liked it a lot and insisted on participating). I've been following Ben's work since his second demo "The Ides" of late 2007 and nothing convinces me that this guy is not blessed with a special talent and an unique voice to match. Thankfully, things are really happenning for him now: his first album "Dark Young Hearts" is finally scheduled to go out in March this year and it will be one of the the first releases published through the revolutionary Bandstocks model, where you can basically own part of the records you like, investing as little as 10 pounds in it, which will get you a share of its revenues among other exclusive stuff. Not bad, huh? And judging from his work so far: Can't. Fucking. Wait. to get my hands on it.

Official site / Blog
MySpace page
Facebook page

frYars - The Perfidy EP

It's incredible how this guy is showing so much versatility and evolution, while still maintaining his own unique style, and all this with only two self-released EP's, seven songs and one remix. A few months after the still-incredible debut The Ides EP, his second effort actually shows an even higher level of maturity, proving that right now he's in a place of its own. "Olive Eyes", the first song, is a natural evolution from what was included in "The Ides EP", a personal take into 1980's electro-pop with catchy details and an infectious melody. But on the rest of this release, frYars looks for a much more ethereal and delicate atmosphere, with two touching and amazingly written songs that show what a great composer he's turning out to be, while his trademark vocal inflections sound even more meaningful than ever. He's still not afraid to include many sonic elements that are here to exponentiate our reactions, but this time, his aim is less physical and more to reach our usually less visible instincts. Many shivers and goosebumps guaranteed, brilliant lyrics ("Now you can see there's a mess your in, no problem's solved without ketamine and its probably best that you stay in your hole, for i'd rather stick to my ethanol.") and a song ("Benedict Arnold" - both original and remixed versions) that is his best yet. In his case, that's really saying a lot. (9/10)

frYars - Olive Eyes (video)



MySpace page

frYars - The Ides EP (cd-r)

After first posting about the video for the song "The Ides" a few weeks ago, I was finally able to find this 4-track EP with the same title, the very first release from 18-year-old Londoner Ben Garrett (aka frYars). All I can say is that it was definitely worth the wait, as all 4 songs are at least as excellent as "The Ides", with my highlights currently being the spasmodic "Happy" and "Madeline". Not afraid to be excessive, many acoustic and electronic elements (like piano, drums, computer, acordian drone, voices, synths, bells, beeps, scratches, handclaps...) are inserted around frYars unique voice, lyrics and melodies, to build intricate electro-pop symphonies full of complex details. Think of it as a sucessful atempt to soundtrack a mixture between an alternative cabaret and a fast-ride in a modern fair carousel, with charming music that just wants to passionately celebrate itself and attack all our senses. Watch out for this guy. (9/10)

MySpace page

Music Videos # 67

frYars - The Ides



With a voice not unlike Patrick Wolf and some serious talent, frYars is an 18-year-old guy from London that has just released his debut EP "The Ides". The title track is a gorgeous electro-pop symphony with some glitch appointments and very-clever composition and melody details, making it virtually impossible to resist its charms. The video, directed by Mark Walker, presents a coreographed world featuring, among other things, heads made of lamps, gangs, some vandalism and blindfolded ballet dancers. "You should have died that very night / Good job for you, I wasn't born a killer". Sweet.

MySpace page