Friendly Fires: 'We don't want to do an MGMT'

Friendly Fires have admitted that they hope they aren't "going to do what MGMT did" in changing the direction of how their new album sounds.

Currently working on the as-yet untitled, follow-up to their 2008 self-titled album, the group admitted they wanted to "steer well clear" of altering things too much.

"I really hope we are not going to do what MGMT did," guitarist Edd Gibson told the Daily Record. "Whatever it is they have done, we want to steer well clear of it. I don't understand why they would make such a leap, go from great pop songs to just any old acoustic music played in anyone's bedroom."

Revealing that they've "finished four songs completely", Gibson added that despite receiving both a Mercury Prize nomination and critical acclaim for their debut album, they are still recording the new LP in singer Ed McFarlane's garage.

"We haven't moved on to some lavish studio," Gibson explained. "We're back where it all began. It's nice we are still doing it that way, we're our own bosses."

Set to play at the Parklife and RockNess festivals in June, the band will also appear at this year's Wireless Festival in July.

Friendly Fires debut new songs at Isle Of Wight Festival

Friendly Fires played two new songs at the Isle Of Wight Festival this afternoon (June 13).

The St Albans band, who took a break from recording their second album to play the final day of this year's event, dropped in 'Running Away' and another untitled new song into their set.

The latter saw the band adopting a soft vocal and instrumental approach, relying on a soaring melody and pulsating keyboards, while 'Running Away' was based around a bass groove, with Ed MacFarlane singing in falsetto over disco synths.

Meanwhile, the group had the crowd dancing along in the blazing afternoon sunshine, with a brass section backing up the samba rhythms of the likes of 'Jump In The Pool' and 'Kiss Of Life' – with MacFarlane dedicating the latter to "all the Pink fans" awaiting the singer's appearance later tonight.

"Enjoy the rest of your day," declared the frontman ahead of set closer 'Paris', "but remember us!"

Friendly Fires played:

'Lovesick'
'Jump In The Pool'
'Skeleton Boy'
'In The Hospital'
Untitled new song
'White Diamonds'
'Strobe'
'Running Away'
'Kiss Of Life'
'On Board'
'Paris'

Friendly Fires plan to kick off 2011 with 'bigger-sounding' new album

Friendly Fires are planning to release their as-yet-untitled new album in January 2011.

The St Albans band told ITN they have finished "about seven" new tracks for the follow-up to their 2008 self-titled debut.

"We're recording it in our garage again because it worked for the first record, so hopefully it'll work for the second," frontman Ed Macfarlane said. "Hopefully it'll be ready by January."

Drummer Jack Savidge added: "It sounds a bit more expanded, a bit bigger this time."

Discussing the album sessions earlier this year, Friendly Fires promised fans that they won't "do what MGMT did" and change the direction of their sound.

Friendly Fires confirm new album title

Friendly Fires have confirmed the title of their second album, which will be released this spring.

Frontman Ed Macfarlane told NME that the title of the record is 'Pala', and that songs recorded by producers Paul Epworth and Andrew Weatherall are under consideration for inclusion.

Macfarlane's writing for the album, named after an Aldous Huxley novel, was partly conducted over a month in a remote cottage in northern France.

"I just kept working, all day and into the night," he said. "After three weeks I was getting cabin fever but I had to focus, because the songs needed to get written. Did I feel under pressure from the rest of the band? Yeah, just a bit."

Macfarlene also revealed that Holy Ghost's Alex Frankel appears on the record.

Friendly Fires to release new album 'Pala' on May 16



Friendly Fires have are set to release their second album, 'Pala', on May 16 in the UK (May 24 in the US).

The album was produced by Paul Epworth and was recorded in Sussex, France and New York.

'Pala' will be preceded by a single, 'Live Those Days Tonight', which the band are to debut live on the US talk show host Jimmy Fallon's TV show tomorrow (March 23).

The song will be available to hear in full on their official website, http://www.wearefriendlyfires.com, from 7:30pm (GMT) tomorrow.

The new album features apperances from the Harlem Gospel Choir on the song 'Hurting' and Holy Ghost's Alex Frankel, who guests on 'True Love'.

Friendly Fires have been confirmed to play Glastonbury, Brighton's The Great Escape and the Reading And Leeds Festivals this summer so far.

The tracklisting of 'Pala' is:

'Live Those Days Tonight'
'Blue Cassette'
'Running Away'
'Hawaiian Air'
'Hurting'
'Pala'
'Show Me Lights'
'True Love'
'Pull Me Back To Earth'
'Chimes'
'Helpless'

Friendly Fires' new song 'Live Those Days Tonight' debuts online – audio

Friendly Fires have debuted their comeback song 'Live Those Days Tonight' online – scroll down and click below to hear it.

The song is the first to be taken from the band's second album 'Pala', due out on May 16.

The album was produced by Paul Epworth and recorded in Sussex, France and New York. The three-piece are set to unveil songs from it on April 7 with an intimate gig at London's XOYO venue.

'Pala' features appearances from the Harlem Gospel Choir on the song 'Hurting' and Holy Ghost's Alex Frankel, who guests on 'True Love'.

Friendly Fires: 'We'd rather listen to Justin Timberlake than Morrissey'



Friendly Fires have chatted about how their second album 'Pala' has been heavily inspired by chart pop music of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Speaking in the new issue of NME, which is on UK newsstands now (May 4) or available digitally, the band said 'Pala' is inspired by NSync, New Kids On The Block, Missy Elliott and Bobby Brown, among others.

Asked about whether they were concerned that their new poppier direction would see them taken less seriously, singer Ed Macfarlane said: "I've never understood that kind of mindset. I'd much rather listen to a Justin Timberlake record than a Morrissey record with clever lyrics and tried and tested guitar tunes."

He added: "It's just not what we're about. And if that alienates us from the world of indie, well, good."

Friendly Fires: 'We don't know how long this band will last' - video



Friendly Fires singer Ed MacFarlane has admitted that he has no idea how long the band will last.

The singer told NME in a video you can watch below, that their forthcoming second album 'Pala', is also a symbol for a doomed Utopia.

The name of the record is taken from the Aldous Huxley novel Island, which focuses on a paradise island which falls apart.

"It's about this idea of paradise which ultimately will never last," he explained. "I thought it was a good symbol for the record, about living for the here and now and appreciating every moment.

"I think it applies to my life quite a lot," he continued "We don't know how long this band is going to last so you have to make the most of it while you can."

The singer revealed in last week's new issue of NME that boy bands also heavily influenced their record. Now the frontman has also said that as well as bands such as NSync shaping the record, hip-hop also played a part.

"Tracks like 'Show Me Lights' just remind me of Backstreet Boys and early NSync," he added. "They have a real sheen but they're also funky and influenced by hip-hop unlike a lot of chart music around at the moment which I'm not really a fan of."

Video Interview - Part One:
http://www.nme.com/nme-video/friendly-f ... 0092577001

Video Interview - Part Two:
http://www.nme.com/nme-video/friendly-f ... 0092587001

Video Track-By-Track Guide To 'Pala':
http://www.nme.com/nme-video/friendly-f ... 0092600001