Review #31: Freddie Bourne (The Troubled Boy at the Bonfire Disco)

Review #31

Artist: Freddie Bourne
EP: The Troubled Boy At The Bonfire Disco

 Freddie Bourne has yet to cease to amaze me.

     While I know it's been a minute since Frosted Green's last review, you may recall that 

I also took a listen to Freddie's previous release, "Vulnerable Commercialism" (listen to it here).

That less than typical live EP in my opinion, felt like a very refreshing look into what goes on 

in the mind of the modern-age singer-songwriter. Well now he's back again to flip the tables!

     "The Troubled Boy At The Bonfire Disco" is the musical love-child of Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Mashmellow, and Avicii. Yeah I know, strange baby. It's really good though!

     As I began listening to this EP I was met with about what I expected ... at first. 

On "I Hope You Don't Forgive Me", there is forty-seven seconds of very pretty and professionally produced finger-picking and verse. At forty-eight seconds, Freddie re-enters himself 

into the track with some heavy vocalizer effect that alters the whole tone that was established in the first half-minute. This Avicii-style ambiance continues throughout the pre-chorus in an alluring way, 

(while also boasting the song title). With my interest peaked I keep listening, the track now comes to the point of where the chorus should cut in, but instead... Freddie's done it! 

He dropped the bass (cue the Marshmellow fans)!

     I get weird with these reviews, I know. Truly though, I was caught off guard. You can find some semblance of Freddie very gently dabbling with this new creative direction on his 2017 album, "I Wrote These Songs With Heavy Vibes And A Piano" (yup, it's right here) but this was... wow. 

Kudos on the risk, it paid off! 

     The following track, "Jeni" carries strong Walk the Moon (ironically, they too have a song called, Jenny) and Maroon 5 vibes. With much less going on the electronics department, this smooth track is a nice wind down from its predecessor while still maintaining some well placed synth layering in key moments. 

     The final two numbers on this EP have a similar musical styling to first half, but they do dive a bit heavier into the use of electronics. I will say while all these songs are strong, I did love the abrupt shift in genres that "I Hope You Don't Forgive Me" offered. That said, "Pale Blue Sky" has a mesmerizing guitar sequence that I quite enjoyed, and I would recommend you really listen to it's presence beneath the lyrics and relaxed beat. This song features special guest, E. King and also has a radio edit available for those curious Spotify groupies. 

     I would have to say that "Spacedust" is a Radiohead song made by a millennial mind. 

That sounds deep... but everything associated with Radiohead sounds deep **shrugs**.  

Like its three siblings, this song showcases how creative Freddie is as an artist and also how talented his producer, Stephen Horning of Dirty Dogg Productions is behind the mixing board. 

Together they certainly make a musical force to be reckoned with and I do hope they continue to collaborate! 

     Overall, Freddie Bourne seems to have taken this new decade as chance to go in a brave new direction with his music. I do love his "old style" and hope he doesn't stray too, too far from it 

but I rather enjoyed this shake up as well, and as always his fine lyrical content. 

     You can listen to "The Troubled Boy At The Bonfire Disco" on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music and YouTube!

- Ryan Hanratty

Frosted Green Productions