what the ferns!

ferns
ferns
(self released cd-r, 2006)
www.myspace.com/fernfrens

came baybeats and there is still no sight of a full ferns album! instead they brought from malaysia a four track album sampler. i felt a little cheated but, as a loyal fan and big time sucker, bought the self-released cd anyway... thankfully, this is another stunner. expanding on the same song list of the earlier released fernsingle (albeit replacing the love in a handful of beans demo with its studio version), the sampler also includes dear derelict and i won't forget. dear derelict is a beatlesque song in two parts that swings soft and slow before breaking into a completely new verse accompanied by rollicking piano and drums. i won't forget is a breezy love song with strumming guitars and tinkling piano.

all the band members' performance are more than competent and one part of ferns' irresistible charm are the surpising turns in song structure and curious instrumentation. another part is warren's voice. his singing, part weary calmness and part cautious hush, is beautiful, especially when it uncontrollably breaks so slightly on the high notes.

their full album, on botany, is scheduled for release on singapore's finest indie pop label fruit records. i do believe that they will surely deliver the best album of 2006, based on what have been heard so far. so, abby, dave, meng, boon and warren, please please please finish the album soon.