“Maybe
there is something that you know that I don't”
If I
was to write this article just over a year ago, things would’ve been a lot
different. Scottish indie heroes Frightened Rabbit had just finished the
anniversary tour of their seminal record ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’,
performing to nothing other than adoring crowds. It was a triumph which
highlighted exactly what the album, and more specifically frontman Scott
Hutchison’s heartfelt lyrics, meant to so many people.
Things
also would have been different as this article would never have been written. I
had never been a fan of Frightened Rabbit. Even after recommendations from
friends, musicians I admired, music sites and publications I read religiously
and god knows who or what else, their music never clicked. ‘The
Midnight Organ Fight’ was always “the best place to start” but it
never worked, despite numerous attempts to somehow get into it. Perhaps it was
Hutchison’s broad Scottish vocal. Perhaps it was the production on their
records. I gave this more listens than any other record I didn’t actually like
for no other reason other than sheer determination.
The
turning point came at Belladrum Festival in August 2018, ten years after it was
released.
“I
hate when I feel like this, and I never hated you”
In
the early hours of the ninth of May 2018, Scott Hutchison posted two alarming tweets.
The latter was signed off “I’m away now. Thanks”. The following day his body
was found on the banks of the Forth. The frontman, who had never shied away
from talking about his battles with mental health issues, specifically
depression, had tragically taken his own life, scarily fulfilling a prophecy
made on his own song ‘Floating on The Forth’.
The
reaction from anyone with the vaguest connection to his music was overwhelming.
Fans, musicians, friends and anyone involved in the music industry were overcome
with grief. Personally, it felt like a death in the family. Hutchison’s name
was so synonymous with the Glaswegian music scene which I grew up immersing
myself in and was friends with and/or influenced so many of the musicians I
loved.
The
first band brave enough to perform Frightened Rabbit’s music following
Hutchison’s death were close personal friends The Twilight Sad. Both Frabbit
and The Sad were signed around the same time and toured together frequently and
had become inextricably entwined as a result. The Twilight Sad’s first live
appearance in eighteen months was at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, three weeks
after Hutchison’s passing had been confirmed. They were given Frabbit’s slot at
the festival ended their set with an intensely emotional version of ‘Keep
Yourself Warm’, a song which frontman James Graham had previously performed
onstage with the band. The track has remained in their setlist ever since.
Frightened
Rabbit was scheduled to continue their ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ anniversary
shows at Belladrum, a festival close to the band’s hearts. As a tribute to
Scott, the festival organisers kept their slot and filled it with a selection
of music videos and live performances of the band performing the record from
start to finish. Despite an initial reluctance, I was persuaded to go by my
friends who were fans of the band. What followed was something
inexplicable. ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ finally hit me. The
wonderful songwriting, the exquisite melodies, the utter passion which exudes
from it all finally struck a chord. It was a communal celebration between
Frightened Rabbit fans, and when things got too much for some people there was
plenty of kindred spirits to comfort them. All these overwhelming feelings
reached a new level when ‘Poke’ was played. The first thing I
did when I got home was put the record on and it was ‘Poke’ which
was stuck on repeat.
“We
adopt brand new language, communicate through pursed lips”
The
majority of the record consists of sonic wonder. A band who are all fully
utilised and create gorgeous folk-inspired soundscapes greater than the sum of
their parts. ‘Poke’ is devoid of any of these luxuries and
largely consists of just Hutchison and an acoustic guitar.
He
sings of a relationship which has ended but is not forgotten and describes it
through classic Hutchison lyrical imagery leaving both nothing and everything
to the imagination. There are fewer more inherently Scottish sentiments about
love than “should we kick its cunt in, and watch as it dies from
bleeding?” but in the same song, Hutchison sings “you should
look through some old photos, I adored you in every one of those” managing
to provide wonderful contrast and convey the myriad of emotions that come with
a break-up. The melodic, finger-picked acoustic is joined by a droning electric
and Hutchison’s reverb-drenched backing vocal which only adds to the feeling of
longing. The attention to sonic detail is masterful and captures a specific
type of melancholy that only the Selkirk-born frontman could ever really
master.
‘Poke’ is
a comfort blanket of sorts. A song which keeps the listener safe in the
knowledge that they are not alone. Frightened Rabbit will forever live on in
the public consciousness through Hutchison’s iconic “make tiny changes” lyric,
but ‘Poke’ is in every single fan’s favourite songs of theirs.
Personally, the song came into my life at one of my lowest points and the
emotional impact it had was unprecedented. There are thousands of others who
have gotten the same or similar feeling from it. Ultimately, it is relatable
through Hutchison’s ability to take his own complex emotions, and put them to
song, stripping them as far as they can go into something which is intimately
humane.
“If
you don't want to be with me just say and I will go”
It
goes without saying that Scott Hutchison’s passing has been a massive loss.
However, the tiny changes he made while on earth have affected an inexplicable
number of people in ways with an impact and reach which cannot be described.
The world will forever be thankful for how his art helped others, despite
having suffered for it, and only wish he could’ve found enough solace in this
to realise that he was needed far more than he may have thought.
Scott’s
legacy lives on through the Tiny Changes charity set up by his family to help
support and awareness of mental health issues for young people and children.
Their website can be found at www.maketinychanges.co.uk
GM
GM
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