Former Fleet-Foxes-drummer Joshua Tillman now operates under a new alias: Father John Misty. Even the name itself reminds the listener straight away of Bonnie »Prince« Billy, furthermore, there are even a few Billy-like biblical metaphors in the lyrics of »Fear Fun«. Other than that, this record’s lyrics are full of strange references to Neil Young’s »On The Beach« and Leonard Cohen’s »Death Of A Ladies Man«, weird stories and abstruse streams of consciousness. Hence, it’s safe to say that all that mushroom-eating at California’s coast was worth the effort, at least when it comes to the lyrics. However, the musical level is not half as obscure as Father had announced it to be before the release: due to the melodious oooh-ahh-singings and the mentioned role-models, his Fleet-Foxes-past is just present as on the prior solo-albums. Still, that’s not disappointing, at all, because the folkrock-universe he has moved in so far is being expanded by an unusual instrumentation and wider melody-spans. Father John Misty has confidence in his songwriting and Phil Ek supports him on the mixer in an experienced, masterly way. The new chapter in Tillmann’s artistic development is not a turning point, he’s rather making a bit fun of what he has reached so far – and we can all laugh with him.
Fear Fun
