Breezy and sweet as they are, The Sun's cuts take the opportunity, at regular intervals, to keep the listener honest with surprises; raising the tempo, upping the intensity or throwing in an off-kilter guitar part where a pattern might dictate electronics. The result is an interesting assortment of sounds where the usual guitars and drums are present, along with keyboards, computers, and a plethora of unique sounds that are near impossible to place.  Full text...

The Sun is a great album and really picks up right where Happiness leaves off.   Full text...

It’s fair to say that Fridge occasionally seem to be treading water, evoking “nice” rather than “interesting,” especially at this album’s outset, but like some of their peers’ (Tortoise, Do Make Say Think) finest work, the depth and craft in these songs keep The Sun interesting and make its inspired moments that much better. Just try to keep those eyes open.  Full text...

Like the bulk of Fridge's other material, it demands a certain slowing down from the listener, a situating of oneself in the midst of the action. But one quickly becomes receptive to the substantiality of their music, to the bright smattering of musical intelligence on display. As is appropriate to an album that's greatness lies in transition, it demands attentiveness to detail. But there are plenty of moments that situate themselves in the listener, iridescent fragments, memories of a world lit by a foreign sun.   Full text...

'The Sun' - not a tribute to the super, soaraway tabloid we assume - lacks urgency and focus. Indeed, a vibe of contented garden-shed tinkering eclipses the bleeding-edge, brain-mashing urgency of their past. But, even after all these years, Fridge's skilled melodic skittering still allows them to fashion a hazily golden dawn you'd be happy to wake up to.   Full text...

With The Sun, this British post-rock trio's fifth full length, Fridge may have unintentionally documented the aspects of stagnation festering on the surface of their genre, perhaps even have provided a better view of member Kieran Hebden's motivations for his last couple of efforts under the moniker Four Tet.  Full text...

It's the sound of three long-time friends trying to stuff a couple new tricks into old memories and coming up with a discombobulated coda.  Full text...