Songwriter Eileen Alanna has a lot to say. So much so, in fact, that she created a band vehicle, Fishing 4 Compliments, through which to express herself. The five-piece indie-folk outfit from Huddersfield have been bound together for well over 10 years, expertly augmenting Eileen’s craft, adding texture and colour to her original folk narratives.
The name alone, Fishing 4 Compliments, verging on the punographical, gives us a glimpse into Eileen’s world – playful, convivial and spirited. We find all of those characteristics in abundance across the band’s second album Lost In Good Intentions. It’s the follow up to their 2020 debut, Off The Isle Of Somewhere, and sees the band deepening its love affair with all things folk-pop, particularly the more sprightly, exuberant aspects of the genre.
Like its predecessor, Lost In Good Intentions is produced by Joseph and David of The Dunwells, the Leeds group that boasts an impressive track record in Americana and folk-rock. In fact, The Dunwells have quite the CV – they’ve played Lollapalooza, appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and opened for Mumford & Sons, Tom Jones and Scouting For Girls. It’s no surprise the duo’s career credentials and production expertise shine across the 10 tracks.
The opener, Hard To Please, is a whirligig of revelry. Evoking memories of folk-fusion exponents Fairground Attraction, it’s fun, immediate and impactful. The subsequent two tracks, Empty Eyes, and in particular, Ghosts, unleash more of an 80s rock-riff dynamic, drifting at times into the darkly goth-folk theatre of All About Eve.
From there, we swim between various moods. Songs such as Feeling Lucky and Listen More nod back to the jaunty vibe of the first track, rekindling the hip-swinging thrill of The Bluebells. The whistling bounce of If I Had conjures Billy Bragg in his most overtly mainstream-pop clothing. While, in the more stripped-back moments, such as on Hand To Reach You, you’ll find whispers of artists like Maria McKee or Kirsty McColl.
Eileen’s lyrics pull at personal threads yet cover universal themes. There are explorations into desire, hope, relationships. The things we all encounter. Ultimately, Fishing 4 Compliments are about togetherness. Despite the often-introspective nature of the lyrics, their sound is, you feel, best enjoyed in company, not in isolation. They are very much a band’s band, a band for the multiple senses, a band to be seen as well as heard.
In that vein, Fishing 4 Compliments harness the spirit of old folk – perhaps not so much musically, but culturally. Their experiential band energy harks back to a time when community was everything; when art, family and entertainment would melt as one, in the local pub or on the village green. That is their enduring sentiment. Fittingly, their songs are like little lost treasures.
The band’s second album is one that is brimming with various flavours, each comfortingly familiar to the palette. This is music you’ll feel you know and love from the outset. It’s insider-folk. And it’s delivered with an irresistible sense of glee.
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Fishing 4 Compliments are:
- Eileen Wattam (aka Eileen Alanna) – singer-songwriter
- Ashley Wattam – rhythm guitar
- James Alexander – lead guitar and backing vocals
- Steve Dyson – bass guitarist and backing vocals
- Dave Simpson – drums
- *David Sharp – drums (David left the band in 2023 but was integral to the recording of both albums and remains a close friend and supporter of the band)
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