Following up their debut EP “Move Me”, Ohio-based band I Fight Fail released their second EP “Voyages and Vantage Points” in early October.
I was immediately intrigued by the first track, titled after the EP, and presented as a spoken word piece. Its bold message forced me to sit back and reflect upon its themes of mankind, the history of our planet, and existentialism.
The second track, “Are You Okay”, hit me with a feeling of familiarity as soon as the first notes struck. A glamorous space-rock piece reminiscent of the early days of The Killers, I couldn’t help but move to the beat. The upbeat instrumentals, although simple, created a very positive atmosphere to the entire song. Paired with vocalist Andy Potter’s rhythmically driven melodies and harmonies, this song was a very, very strong start to what shaped up to be a very solid EP.
This theme was to follow throughout the entire EP. Upbeat, space-pop rock anthems that presented me with mental images of stadiums filled with screaming fans, confetti, and incredible light displays. The lyrics, while simple, manage to create a haunting vibe to each song, in a way that reminds me of X Ambassadors. While there are no real soul-grabbing lines delivered on this EP, there are a few that have resonated with me, such as “Do you believe in anything at all?” (from Anything At All, track 3). Musically, I was repeatedly impressed with the distinction of each instrument, and I was particularly impressed with drummer Anthony Carter. While simple, the atmospheric sensation provided by each song allows for it, and the simplicity was definitely the most appropriate approach to these songs.
If you’re looking for music that will tear your heart out with soul-wrenching lyrics, or will blow you away with musical intricacy and technicalities, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a six-song EP that gets you up and dancing throughout the entire piece, makes you feel good, and leaves you satisfied as the final song comes to a close.
I Fight Fail – Move Me album info
Move Me is available now on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon.
Written by Josh Lowe.