Leading the charge of the lastest generation of Scottish vernacular rock, Glasgow-based band Admiral Fallow have gone from strength to strength in the past year. Picking up where Mumford and Sons left off, the group combines classic indie guitar rock with a striking, melancholic lyrical quality befitting of any worthy successor to the folk-indie crown.

Admiral Fallow, Boots Met My Face

But what sets Admiral Fallow apart from the plethora of bands all apparently trying their damnedest to replicate Arcade Fire is the startling musical talent of clarinet player Kevin Brolly. His ability to improvise sweeping blues clarinet solos without losing touch with the overarching indie rock sound is admirable. Often supported on the flute by singer Sarah Hayes, his interludes provide the music with a greater depth of sound. The rich quality of their music is complimented well by the clever and wry deprecation of Louis Abbott’s lyrics. Admiral Fallow may be treading on the same ground as other ‘ScotRock’ groups, but their obvious talent and wide-spread appeal should see them move far beyond their rivals.

Having seen Admiral Fallow for the first time at Glastonbury last year, I had some idea of what to expect from this performance. However, I was struck by the growing professionalism within the band, and the new-found confidence apparent in their sound. No doubt being on home turf helps to steady the nerves, but in comparison to seven months ago, it is obvious how well Admiral Fallow are taking to their recent success.

Highlights of the gig were the rollicking ‘Squealing Pigs’, a deceptively jangly tune masking the sharp melancholia of the lyrics, and last year’s single ‘Subbuteo’. Both songs have a disconcertingly catchy beat over-laid with violent and aggressive lyrics describing the deterioration of family relationships and the worst effects of childhood bullying. The juxtaposition of such disturbing and revealingly personal lines with a relatively up-beat sound adds to the overall sense of the melancholic and the macabre running throughout the music.

The performance culminated with an encore of the stark all-group chant ‘Four Bulbs’. Previously played only in small venues without microphones, the paired back and minimal quality of the song provided a dramatic finale to a raucous performance.

Despite mainly playing crowd-pleasing tracks from their first album, Boots Met My Face, the band did premier a number of new tracks that will feature on their soon-to-be-released second album later this year.  The rapturously enthusiastic reception from the crowd was well deserved – the new album looks set to capitalise on the success of last year as Admiral Fallow take their place at centre stage of the UK indie music scene.

There are still some conflicting issues in their music: despite their musical talents, there are occasions during songs where the musical ability of a band member overtakes the overall coherency of the music. Judging by the vast improvement between last June and Friday night’s gig, these small issues should soon be ironed out. This is a band to watch in 2012, and I will not be surprised if with a new album in spring comes a hit single on the scale of Mumford’s ‘Lion Man’. Now that Mumford et al have dropped further out of the public eye, Admiral Fallow have a real chance to make the scene their own.

Admiral Fallow will be returning to Glasgow on December 8th at the infamous Barrowland Ballroom.