It's been a weird few years for the Lo-Fis - they make one of the few memorable debuts of the last decade - 1998's acid-blooded punk-paste mashed-disco classic 'How To Operate With A Blown Mind' - lose half the band
six months later, and then split to America to make it big, to only end up supporting Limp Bizkit in sports arenas. It's probably not what the original plan was, but what has failed to kill them has made them if not stronger, certainly funkier.
Kicking off with the spiralling 'What You Want', 'Don't Be Afraid Of Love' is not quite what you'd expect if you'd spent the last four years dreaming of becoming the scorpion that never sweats. At times, it seems like the work of an entirely different band, gradually losing its way towards the end. The band being well aware that somebody aping ex-singer The Wrekked Train (or, if you prefer, Dave) might get on people's tits after a while, guest stars such as Bootsy Collins (on the quite poor 'On The Pier') and Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli (on the plain filthy 'Somebody Needs You') are drafted in, along with vocalist Lisa Millett to add a bit of variation.
A bit of a freaky soul-pop gem turns up with 'Feel What I Feel', which has 'huge summer smash' written all over it, whereas 'Tied To The Mast' splurts with furious squelches in a son of-'Lazer Sheep-Dip Funk'manner, even if the song itself is a bit useless, and closer 'Dark Is Easy' has a nice Love Unlimited Orchestra feel to it before going into a mellow area of country.
Overall, 'Don't Be Afraid...' is a tad frustrating. Everything ticks along funkily and proficiently, but nothing really wants to stick out. It has its moments, but is just too bloody normal, and right now, that's the last thing we need.
