Here we go, another C86-drenched indie guitar pop album, this time a debut from London trio and Fortuna Pop act Flowers.
But unlike some of the bland indie pop that limps through our letter box Flowers have a bit more about them – specifically one hell of a vocalist in Rachel Kenedy.
Brought together through an advert by drummer Sam Ayres who wanted musicians to help hom make music like “Madonna though a broken tape machine,” the band has ended up sounding like Everything But the Girl through a Talulah Gosh machine.
Kenedy’s vocals is what in layman’s terms are called, proper. She can really sing and belts out each song in her high, emotional almost choral style.
On first track Young there’s a great mix that allows here vocals to shine. It’s a minor epic indie hit in the making but Forget the Fall introduces a more jangly, early Wedding Present feel, which go full throttle by track 3 and sets the tone for the bulk of the album.
It is a style I loved in 1986 and still listen to in nostalgic moments but is not the best fit for her vocals. Having this voice backed by fairly generic indie guitar pop is almost an injustice. It is this odd mix that makes this feel like a debut of a band that is finding its sound and hasn’t quite got it right yet.
That is until you reach track nine, I Love You. Synths are brought to the fore, the jangly guitars are gone and the result is remarkable. Here is a song that deserves to be with her voice. If the band read this I urge them to focus on this track when it comes to making their second album.
There is a truly great band lurking in this album, they just don’t know it yet.
7/10
by Joe Lepper
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