Blueberry Boat, the follow-up to the Fiery Furnaces’ acclaimed Gallowsbird’s Bark, certainly deserves as much acclaim as their 2003 debut, if not more.

Although it may not appeal to the mainstream masses, Blueberry Boat presents audiences with a highly original and extremely interesting album to listen to. Although it could be described as a little slow to begin with, the opening track Quay Cur clocking up ten-plus minutes, yet once you become fully immersed in the synth-pop sounds, time somehow becomes strangely forgotten. Some may call Blueberry Boat self-indulgent — and I suppose they would be right. However, it is precisely this self-indulgence that ensures an album that is not only poppy, extremely fun, but also incredibly artistic.

And is it any wonder they can create such a sound. Guitarist, among other things Matt Friedberger has a second, lesser-known job as an author of children’s books, and this occupation has no doubt inspired the soundscapes of the album. At times it can seem as though singer Eleanor (Matt’s sister) is telling a magical fairytale for children. This is ensured by the simple, mundane, but effective lyrics, which are particularly evident with the track My Dog Was Lost But Now He’s Found.

Other stand-out tracks on Blueberry Boat include the title track, as well as Chief Inspector Blanchflower, with it’s narrative-like lyrics and accompanying soundtrack, which dramatically changes mood in an instant. In addition to the full-length album, Australian and New Zealand audiences get a bonus disc, featuring the tracks Single Again and Evergreen.

The brother and sister duo grew up in Chicago but later moved to Brooklyn, New York. It was there that they decided to form the Fiery Furnaces. Although the band had various line-ups, at one point including five members, Matt and Eleanor eventually came to the realisation that they could work well as a two-piece. And this was obviously a great idea, because the Fiery Furnaces haven’t turned back since.

The duo spent a few years playing around New York, supporting the likes of Sleater-Kinney, even before landing their record deal with Rough Trade. Earlier this year they scored the coveted support slot on Franz Ferdinand’s debut world tour, which brought them to Australian shores for the Splendour In The Grass festival in July. One can only hope that it doesn’t take them too long to make a return, this time headlining their own shows.

The Fiery Furnaces — easy listening? Definitely not. Challenging? Perhaps. Artistic, innovative, and loads of fun? Yes, yes, and yes!