Fly On By To Check Out This Dark Indie Delight
'Famous Problems' intoxicates you with the love of earthy countryfied rock n'roll and transports you via dark alleys and empty freeways to the edge of a mountain, leaving you shaken but staring at the stars.
Country versus indie in deep semi-acoustic ballads like 'Take Action', where rasping vocals resonate for long after the last chord, although the twee strumming styles usually associated with country music are miles away as The Butterflies of Love's eclectic guitarwork here is more Sonic Youth than Hank Williams.
'In A Blizzard In A Lighthouse' is a gripping mixture of stirring guitarwork and repetitive vocals that unseat you a little more each time you consider the picture that they're painting. There's a sly hint of psychedelic harmony in, 'No Moon, No Sun, No Stars', a tune whose overdriven chorus shakes you to your core as the lyrics add cryptic intrigue, "Well I can't say what it was, but it wasn't night."
There is a wistful, woozy element to the tunes, such as 'Sunshine's laidback, acoustic retrospective, while the rippling arpeggios of 'Conquer Every Woe' make way for some rather chintzy keys. 'Ghostride' is the standout track in this style with a searching guitar solo and darkly emotive sound; the only reference to the band's miniscule insect namesakes is during this flighty guitarwork that whisks you away before a butterfly could beat its wings.
The true moment of epiphany here comes in the form of 'Smite The White Eagle' is an expansive, balmy psychedelic number with a nod to Pink Floyd in its echoing guitars and sparse instrumentation used to great effect. One of the most intoxicating tracks I've heard all year, this is the one track that will inspire you to go out and snap up The Butterflies Of Love's back catalogue.