Mysterious and Promising
Just relax and enjoy a journey into the atmospheric and somehow subliminal world of The Flies. Overall the band went through all kinds of subjects, keeping the mood of the whole album dark and sometimes even glaucous. Sean Cook's quiet and soft voice just adds to the mysterious sounds of the album; on certain tracks his voice just seems to be a whisper that embraces the music.
All through the album the band tends to experiment with different sounds like in 'The Temptress' where more Latin tunes can be heard, like rumba beats. With such a title the choice of tune could not have been better; the whole track is sumptuous, sensual and extremely classy.
'One Less Heart Beats' seems like poetry that has been turned into a song. A simple classic guitar with some electronic sounds in the background and you get a beautiful ode to the broken hearts. There again the band has been able to create another mood where each and everyone one of us can relate.
"I seek my own pleasure and I don't need anybody (...) my sexual obsession winks only for me ...dreams of me..." .. No do not think straight away that this track should be restricted to an audience of over 18! Though being provocative and using very explicit language, the sounds and the lyrics lead you to a world of a self-obsessed man who is lost, only finding pleasure in his dreams that are his escape.
'In This World' is probably the weakest song on the album, not because it is more lively but because you do not expect the band to create a classic pop-ish song that in the end appears to be a bit boring.
The band goes with a great ease from complex mixes of electronic and classical sounds like in 'Lord of the Flies', to more laid back and slow tunes like 'I Have No Shame', all this with the same quality.
The last track of the album, 'Harmonica Track' is an instrumental tune with a, yes you guessed it...a harmonica. It seems like this last moment is here just for you to relax after having been through all sorts of emotions.
Those who appreciate Portishead, 8mm, etc will definitely be caught by the mysterious and tormented world of Sean Cook and co. Whatever the theme, there is always a drop of sensuality and suffering that erase. An album that should definitely be one of 2006's highlights.