White Rabbits Fort Nightly by: Mark Sims Tue:13-Nov-07 Label: Say Hey Year: 2007 WB rating 75 out of 100

Fort Nightly is the debut release from New York based six-piece The White Rabbits; an album that not only sets The Rabbits up as a band to watch out for in the future, but also has more tricks hidden away than any magicians hat.

‘Kid on My Shoulders’ establishes from the beginning that The Rabbits are talented musicians. An ambitious four-and-a-half minute mix of 60’s lounge and domineering rhythms, the song is kept together by the band’s charming front-man Greg Roberts. The Rabbits pull off the long opening track, mixing energetic musical youth and enthusiasm with sounds already heard before but not this way, are smart enough not to pull all of their tricks out of their hats too early.

First single ‘The Plot’ moves a step away from ‘Kid On My Shoulders’; a more generic, simplistic sound similar to many bands today – its speedy tempo, repetitious riffs, and under four minute running time to insure it’s safe for radio.  However it is when the music of Fort Nightly is a little less convoluted in melody and structure that the vigour and exuberance of The Rabbits shines through – as if the band has the chance to just get lost in what they are doing, rather than focusing on trying to display so many different talents.

The Rabbits then continue on in strange and unexpected directions; their music at one stage evoking imagery of crazed Goth cabaret stages filled with theatrical dancers, manic choirs, the band on the sideline conducting all with their genre-warping sound – where shape-shifting piano, group percussion and charismatic vocals are the driving forces. This type of imagery and imaginative way of thinking is ever present on Fort Nightly, and it’s more than likely that listeners won’t be in the same place as they started out once it’s reached its end.

‘March Of The Camels’ is The Rabbits leading all through a dark and twisted tunnel, unsure of where the destination will be but certain that it could only be a place shaped by their teeming mix of scratchy guitar, steady beat, looming bass line, and theatrical over-the-top vocals that show themselves in the chorus – almost threatening to completely overshadow the instruments. It switches between moods and tempo effortlessly and this is the track where The Rabbits are at their most exciting – the music erupting.

With a similar sound to ‘March Of The Camels’ title track ‘Fort Nightly’ begins with marching-band-like drums and a slow but stamping piano that follows close behind – eventually wondering off by itself and being all the better for it. The combined vocals of The Rabbits are one of their strongest and most alluring elements, and hear they continue, lead by the charismatic Roberts who is backed by lingering moans that creep up behind the possessed instruments, adding another quality to the music.

Varied, versatile and up-and-down, Fort Nightly is a refreshing debut. The Rabbits hinting that burrowed away somewhere is a great album.