With their mini-album, Sink or Swim, Northern-Irish-Dutch duet Fräulein successfully manages to recreate their vibrating live energy in the studio. Review.
SINK OR SWIM – FRÄULEIN
Delicate, in the heart of night, Feels Like Flying (Night) is dreamy, romantic, and hypnotic. For this mini-album, Sink or Swim, Fräulein decides to make it its start and end. Yet, this is not a perfect loop, but rather a bright and logical progression. Interlude 1: Norman Circle is a vertigo injection. Fast and subtle, it’s the perfect link with Wait and See. Here, the band’s whole punk rock essence is felt through sharp guitars and torn textures. Joni Samuels’ vocals are still clear, Karsten van der Tol’s drums are still fluid.
Interlude 2: Feeling Good announces the shiniest parts of their art, and this duality in tones is the records’ strength. Sink or Swim, it’s the catchy and broken chorus we get on Pruning, which ends with a too-short, almost frustrating, ‘lalala’. It’s also incredibly promising and is, of course, made for live performances, as it’s able to last hours, should they wish it. The Last Drop follows, keeping up the animated and melancholic grunge punk rock aesthetics of the band. It’s bright and looking for a sort of fulfilment. Feeling Good brings back the notes of Interlude 2, with a chaotic, yet charming, ending.
At least as grunge, In The Living Room is a gem that awakes nostalgia with its saturated riffs. Like all the other songs here, it carries the duo’s live energy at its core. Interlude 3: Piano Reverb is the logical end to this effervescent track. Then, as announced, the duo closes it all with Feels Like Flying (Day), vivid, bright, and electric as always. With Sink or Swim, Fräulein impresses. Because there are only two of them here and still the layers of their sound seem to bring in more musicians. And yet, it’s only together that the band continues to evolve under our watch, both live and in the studio. Unmissable!
