Friday, November 19, 2021

Album Review: Elbow – Flying Dream 1

If there’s anything that’s a given is that the last year and a half has not been a normal time to be living through. Most of us have had to adjust in countless ways and there have been a lot of intense and conflicting feelings. So there’s something to be said about an album released in 2021 that drips with dreaminess, kindness, and hope. 

 

May I present to you Flying Dream 1

 

If you’re looking for something raucous, look elsewhere. The name of this album describes it perfectly and I would further describe it as a combination of latter days Talk-Talk and Peter Gabriel, except that the melancholy you can find in songs has a heavy dose of hope. It’s an emotion Elbow is masterful in tapping into and it’s possible thanks to combining all the elements that make up this band. The curious thing is that this band has always been on top form. If you listen to their debut, Asleep in the Back, it sounds like a seasoned band. That was 20 years ago and what’s happened with the band is that they’ve explored a variety of textures and approached music in a way I’d describe as minimalist prog. They don’t go for speed or mind bending time signatures though they are meticulous in the placement of every single element, from main instruments to backing vocals and orchestral arrangements, and small electronic flourishes and drumbeats. It's always music that invites you to dig in and see the layers for there are countless. 

 

Another way I’d describe the use of instrumentation is that each instrument truly plays with the rest in the sense that there’s a literal playfulness in how the band plays and that only comes about through chemistry and understanding each other. The track Is it a Bird is a perfect example of this where there’s space for the track to sneak in a lot of magic. The winds and the bass in this song border on exquisite. It’s jazzy in a very floaty way and that’s a word I’d use for a lot of the songs here, floaty or ethereal, or well, dreamy. Depending on the track, the lead player will either be the guitar, the keys, or everyone takes turns like a round robin of quirky passages and riffs. 



 

It’s curious that what brings it all together are often the vocals and Guy Garvey’s lyrics and vocals are a thing of beauty quite often. For me, he has a tone that just makes me smile in a many layered way. It’s easy to see why he draws so much attention though it punches through thanks often to Craig Potter’s wonderful work on the keys. Everyone plays a huge roll in this band, though what the keys bring is something very special. 

 

Seeing some interviews, Guy Garvey described the songs as love letters to each other as a band and I think that’s an exceptionally apt way to describe this album. It’s music where you can feel how happy they are to be together playing and that they recorded tracks at the Brighton Theater also comes through the music. It’s theatrical, occasionally quirky, but never in a rush to anything, and with what this year has entailed, I for one welcome this dreamy slowburn and the dreams I’m sure they’ll inspire. 


As for me...2022 seems like a great year for another Odventure and you can be sure this album will be keeping me company. 


Peace, love, and dreamy maki rolls

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