Vol. 140
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Hard-Fi
‘Sweating Someone Else’s Fever’
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Hard-Fi – Sweating Someone Else’s Fever – Album review
Hard-Fi were always a band that stood out from the pack during the noughties indie boom. Their debut album, ‘Stars of CCTV’ shot them to the forefront of the movement and brought them huge success and acclaim.
Their sound incorporated a more expansive palette then their contemporaries but this would also then lead to them getting lost in the shuffle as the industry began to move on to its next genre-kink. Whilst charting well, ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ and ‘Killer Sounds’ didn’t resonate the same way with fans beginning to look for something different.
Many weren’t surprised when the band entered into a lengthy hiatus in in the early 2010’s. For fans though they were left with a nagging thought of ‘what if’. The band arriving with such promise, then disappearing with nothing more than a whimper.
As the inevitable hooks of nostalgia began to revisit that golden generation of indie rock success however, the band were ready to test the waters. The response to their initial reunion was phenomenal and generated a pro-longed return that now culminates with their first studio album in fifteen years, ‘Sweating Someone Else’s Fever’.
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Now older and endowed with the associated wisdom that comes with navigating this troubled world for so long, it’s an album that tries both to show who the band are in 2026 whilst also dialling into what brought them their original success.
Sonically this again means that Hard-Fi are happy to bring a wide-range of influences into the mix, creating a record that simmers, bubbles and boils. The sound brings back their distinctive blend melancholia and euphoria, which again provides the springboard for their direct and grounded lyrics.
These songs lyrically look at the state of the world and deliver observations in a way that feels relatable and accessible to the average listener. This is one of the skillsets that made the band stand out, no pretence, no superiority, just a group of friends from Staines being themselves.
Fans and the band can now get a little closure with this return being undeniably successful both on stage and on record. Hopefully there is more in the tank, and their return will be a long-term investment. But whatever the future holds Hard-Fi have accomplished something worth recognising with this solid return.
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Hard-Fi
Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
Thursday 29th September 2022
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HARD-FI – MILTON KEYNES – LIVE REVIEW
Tonight is a hot ticket, with venue staff stating that they could’ve sold the venue out four times over, and that people had been inquiring about just listening from outside the venue.
The reason for the excitement is that tonight indie rock standouts Hard-Fi will be playing their first show in eight years. Not just that but it takes place in the intimate surrounds of one of the UK’s premier independent music venues – the Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes (or Wolverton as singer Richard Archer points out).
Yes, the return of Hard-Fi is very welcome and given the lyrical content of some of their early material, it’s somewhat apt that the band responsible for ‘Cash Machine’ return during one of the most tumultuous weeks of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Tonight serves as a warm up for their big return shows in Manchester and London, but before Hard-Fi arrive on stage we have the warm up for tonight. Eddz channels his inner Ian Brown, performing solo to a backing track. In front of a baying crowd, Eddz styles out the performance well and certainly leaves the stage with more fans than we he arrived.
The venue is rammed tight by the time the returning heroes arrive on stage and opener ‘Middle Eastern Holiday’ instantly engages the crowd. The atmosphere is electric as the band find their feet through the likes of ‘Can’t Get Along (Without You)’ and ‘I Shall Overcome’.
There is a slightly misguided rendition of The White Stripes classic ‘Seven Nation Army’ early in the show which feels oddly placed and generally unnecessary, however the next tracks ‘Tied Up Too Tight’ and ‘Good For Nothing’ ensure that the crowd remains firmly onboard.
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A run of ‘Better Do Better’, ‘Bring It On’, ‘Fire In The House’ and ‘Cash Machine’ is fantastic, and just shows the depth of the bands back catalogue. Despite only having 3 studio albums to their name, Hard-Fi certainly have the proverbial bangers for days!
Whilst there are times that it’s clear this is their first show in a very long time, the band shake off any gremlins to deliver a memorable night for their fans. ‘Suburban Knights’ and ‘Hard To Beat’ close out the main set for a three song encore which ends of ‘Living For The Weekend’.
The band are living for this weekend and their big return shows, but after this performance, fans will be hoping that Hard-Fi stick around for a while longer!
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