Fury And The Mouse We've Always Been Nervous People Release Date : 2005. Label: Independent. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. Situational, I realize, but at the time of my scribbling these notes down on post-it notes, I find this album makes really good ferry music. The outro to "It's Not Even Wednesday" suits the trees, barely visible silhouetted by a bruised buttery-steel cloudy sunset, drifting by as we pulled out of the harbour. Swaying gently, both the boat and the songs. Brooke has a real female voice, no pretentions, not overbearing and trying to be something it's not, which is so refreshing. Her no-bullshit chiming is evened out by the sharp, occasional male vocals. The synth bits are fun - they vary madly from song to song. Here, a droning wheeze, there, a chipper tick. In "Usurpation and Conquest," those still-varying low hollow synths explode into smokin' guitars and a let-loose wail by Brooke. I kinda want to have her kick it just a bit more though (I hear the production values weren't totally up to snuff on this recording, so we'll check back on this down the line...). And the ferry sails into the night and the same couple walks by my window for the 4th time, and I look through my own reflection at the indigo-inky dark smoothly moving past... reflect... and feel how this music seems to be made for night and shuffling feet. I've walked back into the 80's on "Shut Up Like A Telescope." A-HA perhaps? There's something familiar I can't quite place. But it's a step out of the 80's undoubtedly. It drifts into a very Red Stars Theory ambience on "To Sudden Silence." But I do love the growling build-up and desolate guitar swimming in "Their Heads Are Gone If You Please, Your Majesty." Song of choice : I like "To Sudden Silence" best because it's so my mood right now. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Fury And The Mouse website Published : November, 2005.