Overwhelming symmetry and beauty Flow – PROMISE: When I reviewed the first effort from this amazing group, it was easy to give them top marks… a few months after that album, they came to Seattle (only about 40 miles from my house), so I got to do a LIVE show review of their performances; one of the most memorable shows I’ve ever watched, as I said in my review.
Many in the music business view so-called “sophomore” albums as “chancy“… there’s often a tendency for players or groups to “overreach“, so the music created is either a “copy” of the original tunes, or the artists go so far out in a search for “new sounds” that the album isn’t at all what you expected… that is DEFINITELY not the case with the new release… the samples won’t be available for a few weeks yet, so you’ll have to “trust my ears“… in the meantime, though, they did release one of the pieces, “Last Light”, on video… this will give you a clear image of the overwhelming symmetry and beauty Flow has created on the new album… just CLICK on the image below, and it will take you to their page (after you watch the video, click BACK to return to this review)…
FLOW is an anagram of group member’s names — Fiona Joy Hawkins, Lawrence Blatt , Jeff Oster and Will Ackerman… they are also joined by Jeff Haynes and Tom Eaton… one of the songs that really stood out for me on “Promise” is “Blue Umbrella”… the guitar lead-in meshes perfectly with the piano, then at the 1:06 mark, all the other players join in a sonic display of power like none you’ve heard this year… “pacing” is perfect, and the listener is given plenty of silent spaces to fill in with their own visions.
The wonderful string/harp sounds on the opening title track, “Promise”, will send chills up and down your spine… you’ll find yourself listening to this song over and over again… I believe it will be nominated for (and WIN) an award!
The 3:49 “Adrift At Sea” really puts you in that yacht, dinghy or rowboat as you float lazily along in the currents of life… I predict that this piece will be getting some MAJOR airplay.
It’s one of the longer tracks, clocking in at 5:53, that captured my vote for personal favorite of the ten magical songs offered up for your aural enjoyment… “All These Years” features silky-smooth vocals riding in, ’round and through the other instruments… be sure to listen to this one with your headphones on (in fact, do the whole album that way, at least for your first sitting); the talent displayed on this composition is just stunning, folks!
I give Flow my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with (again) a perfect “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 5.00… that means that they get my “PICK” for “best sophomore release”! Our ears will be anxiously awaiting their next set. Get more information on their “FlowTheGroup” page. Rotcod Zzaj
#Overwhelming #symmetry #beauty #Flow
