Album Details

• Artist: Fiction Plane
• EP:
Bitter Forces And Lame Race Horses
• Label: Everybody's Records
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: mark_morton on 2011-05-12

Media

Fiction Plane's second effort, the Bitter Forces and Lame Race Horses EP is in a word: infectious. In a mere four songs, Fiction Plane has managed to do what very few bands are capable of accomplishing: evading the sophomore blues that gives young bands the impression of one-trick ponies.

And while the cynical music fan would deem two years too long an expanse between releases, Fiction Plane makes these four ultra-dynamic tracks worth the wait. The 2003 debut Everything Will Never Be OK may have provided listeners to a taste of the wealth of musical dexterity and knowledge the guys were capable of, Bitter Forces... offers a more focused display of aural wisdom the band has to impart.

Where the debut was a maelstrom of manic enthusiasm, Bitter Forces... is a progression in structured articulation, all the while retaining the band's signature nod to energetic sarcasm. More centered on dramatic rock than free-form pop, Fiction Plane's direction herein is seemingly more serious in tone, but no less listenable. Each track is composed with such control and emphasis on excellent songwriting that one can easily replay the entire EP over and over again with equal enthusiasm.

Like a favorite movie, Bitter Forces... yields an uncanny ability to worm its way into the listener's head allowing repeated exposure without the fear of monotony. Perhaps it was the addition of vigorous drummer Pete Wilhoit, Joe Sumner's amplified vocal expressionism, Seton Daunt's development as a soulful guitarist, or Dan Brown's effervescent dexterity as a bassist and keyboardist, but with this release, Fiction Plane evolved into a dramatic, captivating, spirited rock band that many merely aspire to be.

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