Friendly fire

10:04am Wednesday 28th March 2001

David Fisher gets by with a little help from his friends. His is the name on the cover of the Firehorse CD, and his is the prominent voice throughout, but it is obvious that an array of secondary sounds are generated by his many musical buddies, writes Heidi Wyithe.

Guitars, percussion, keyboards, a piano and organ, loops, samples, drums, lead and backing vocals, nylon and acoustic strings, an old-fashioned up-right bass and, get this, some scratching all of it is generated by the enthusiastic gang, who mostly hail from Croydon. Accumulating as a part festival folk, part popular rock offering, this album is largely guitar-led. Its core is jaunty and optimistic. The pace and melodies are similar to those produced by folky group The Hot House Flowers.

This could be an antidote to all the darker guitar bands popular right now. Instead he uplifts the listener with positively-titled tracks like: Everything's Right, Dreamcatcher, Kissing The Mirror and Kiss The Sun.

You're The One offers a more tormented message. It's a welcome tangent on a very palatable collection. David's voice is insistent and injured as he sings.

Listen up for the occasional trumpet blast, but most of all just enjoy the rolling ease, the sudden elation and joy with which Fisher's style is peppered.

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