Firestations are no strangers to Joyzine having featured on our reviews pages as well as 20 Years of Joy Vol. 1 compilation, and Christmas advent calendar. So a new release is going to be met with open arms, especially when it is as pensively lush as International Dust. The band were pared-back for 2025’s Many White Horses, but for the new release it’s a full line-up of Mike Cranny (vocals, guitar), Laura Copsey (vocals, keys, flute, flugelhorn), Martin Thompson (guitar, synths, piano), Tom Hargreaves (drums, percussion) and Neil Walsh (bass, viola, vocals).
From the opening track, ‘Hidden Face’ we get the gorgeous, layered harmonies that are woven through all the tracks. Even with the low fuzz of the guitar and the controlled power of the bass and drums the vocals swirl over the top before the song ends in a miasma of psychedelic colours.
Former single ‘An Apparition’ (video below) draws on Michael Haneke’s German TV adaptation of Kafka’s The Castle and the band say it’s, “one of the poppier numbers on the album with some proper catchy singalong lyrics such as: ‘Minimal detail in a memory shadow, this close to being unnoticeable’. All together now! I wanted this to be a kind of anti-monarchy protest song when I first wrote it, but it seems to be more of a ghost story now, maybe about being haunted or possessed without really understanding how or why. Haunted by a misremembered past, perhaps, and going through a series of collective hallucinations.”
Firestations can bring propulsion and bounce on songs like ‘International Dust’, ‘Given Power’, and ‘Movement Of A Wheel’, but even the blown-out drums on the latter track have to give way to the caramel centre of vocals that slowly roll over everything; and the chorus is as uplifting as a thermal current.
For International Dust the band took a little more time to record as they engaged James Trevascus to mix and master, duties normally taken by Mike Cranny. Mike says it “definitely made for a more expansive and immersive listen, with room for everything to find its place. The musical arrangements this time round also contribute to the immersive feel by exploring the depth of musicianship in the band.”.
Somehow Firestations create movement while remaining laidback and their gently layered harmonies recall Crosby, Stills and Nash, particularly on ‘Beginners’ with the voices floating in on a warm zephyr from the Laurel Canyon alt-countryside. You can imagine a mood elevating day festival that featured Firestations alongside The Soundcarriers, Stereolab, and Vanishing Twin. International Dust is calming without being soporific and has an unforced charm that allows it to be played many times without ever outstaying its welcome.
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Released through the amazing Lost Map label.
Review by Paul F Cook
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