In Flight Program never quite takes off.
There's a big rumbling of excitement about the 'Derby music scene' at the moment, however I'm here to urinate on the proverbial fireworks. There is the usual indie sameness about it, and it lacks the swagger of the Manchester scene or the class of the London scene, or even the dreamy-creativity of the Bristol scene.
Okay so now I've got that off of my chest, what about In Flight Program? Firstly it's not all bad. First song off of this EP 'Space/Time Adventure' starts with some nice drumming that could almost be a slower Drum & Bass beat, before the lead vocals from Jamie Thrasivoulou blast in with a style that could be best described as shouting as opposed to singing. For the most part In Flight Program are a Brit-rock indie band with slightly heavier guitar riffs and more shouting vocals. This isn't screamo though, even if at times it does border on it. It is worth mentioning that the drumming is very good. Rob Poulter certainly is the talented one of the band who also plays guitar and Xylophone (?!), presumably not at the same time though. Second song 'Lost Title' is too similar to the first song to stand out, with feverish drums, shouting lyrics and guitars that seem to get lost into the back ground.
'The Obligatory Quiet Last Song' is quiet but isn't the last song – the cheeky Northern lads! It's not half as bad as the first two and rocks between slow verse and heavy-riffed chorus, and halfway through over the top of a fuzzbox riff we have the gentle tinkling of the Xylophone which will give the band an extra point for having the gall to use such an uncool rock instrument!
There are some nice riffs to the beginning of 'Making Sense Of Memories' and the song plods along with another nice beat, however the verses once again don't have enough originality in the music until the chorus which blasts in again with some great riffs, and changes the make up of the song completely – with some additional Slipnot-esque screaming! Interesting.
James Fisher decides that it's his time to shine with some inspiring bass work on 'Suffocation Syndrome', and the song slots into a good indie groove, but never quite makes it out of second gear.
'Death To Fashion Rock' could well be In Flight Programme's best song mainly because of a fantastic rhythm section from Rob and James that create a mouth-watering background tone that both the vocals and guitar don't quite live up too. Andy's guitar work is sometimes like a quilt that's made up of nicely worked individual squares. On their own his riffs are good, but sometimes they are sawn together and they are so different that it just doesn't work.
It may be worth noting a hidden song at the end, but then again maybe not.
In Flight Program will not be a big band on the back of this. They are been compared to the likes of Rival School and Cave In, but perhaps this does the aforementioned bands a little injustice. Derby may love them. Their mum's may love them, but unfortunately I don't.