Self-pronounced post-prog, drone-pop collective Flight of Helios have blessed us with their debut single, a good old-fashioned double A-side which is easily one of the best singles to come out of Oxford for some time. The stuttering rhythms, sun-kissed synths, and Chris Beard’s lush vocal harmonies and evocative lyrics bring to mind the likes of Elbow and Spiritualized, but both songs here also display an unabashed pop sensibility which, refreshingly, never veers towards mainstream banality. ‘Star’ is a celestial love ode, and as irresistibly infectious as anything I have heard this year – the combined elements of airy synths, lofty vocal harmonies and the deep tone of the bass truly create a feeling of weightlessness. On the flipside, ‘Crow’ takes a similar approach but with a shot of adrenaline to give the song a pulsating, uptempo rhythm, ending with swathes of whirring electronics. Joyous stuff. File under “ones to watch.” (TM)
[Originally published in Oxfordshire Music Magazine, issue 26]
http://www.back2left.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/OMS-26.pdf
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