Night Flowers release their second album FORTUNE TELLER from Dirty Bingo Records on 25th October
Following on from the critical acclaim of their debut release Wild Notion, the transatlantic five piece have returned with another pop-tastic album that does well to overcome the nerves of any second album syndrome.
For this album drummer Zebedee Budworth mixed originally at Tie Dye Studios (Sheffield) with Adam Jaffrey taking final production reins on the album which again finds Sophia Pettit leading the band on vocal duties with support from lead guitarist, Greg Ullyart.
While the first album had a real mix of electro dream pop with little nuggets of pop goodness filled with nostalgia and appreciation for musical heritage such as 'Hey Love' and 'Sandcastles', this album is definitely an alternative feel in that it takes more of a rockier road on the journey to pop magnificence.
From album opener, 'Night Train' the sense of respect to the school of rock is apparent and with a female vocalist the similarity to Fleetwood Mac will not be mistaken, yet throughout the album there are nods to many an American sound of years past be it Tom Petty or the boss himself, Bruce Springsteen.
Album track, 'Fortune Teller' tells a tale of travelling with the seven sins on your shoulder and this mix of lyrical mysticism and a rock soundtrack would not look out of place from even a Dave Grohl back catalogue.
The impassioned reverence to these rock gods are worn proudly on their sleeve as seen by 'Lotta Love' a remembered hook from a bygone era, with synths leaving you dreaming of a highway. This is further encapsulated by 'Merry-Go-Round' inspired by Jane Weidlin, which has a real 80s synth hook. This is the beauty of the band, they are a happy band to listen to singing about the joy of life rather than the depressing social climate we find ourselves in - not a mention of Brexit, race relations or snowflakes to be seen here.
Fortune Teller is an album to be embraced and to be loved, an album about new beginnings and celebrating the wonder of life. You need not look further than penultimate track 'I've Loved You (Such a Long Time)' a track that is the big power ballad with big drums and in dire need of an air guitar and hair brush video; a song albeit about a relationship breaking down, nevertheless a relationship where not a minute was wasted.
Yet for the downbeat lyrical nature of many of the songs, there is one message being sung and the overpowering emotion that resonates throughout both albums by this band is one of hope.
Wild Notion was one of my albums of 2018, and after a few listens I do not think there will be many albums to challenge Fortune Teller for a position in my final rankings of 2019. Does it push envelopes, perhaps not, but it is a reminder that you can still make happy music nowadays.
The band will have an album launch at Redon, London on 31st October before touring in support of LIFE from 2nd-13th November.
My thanks as always to One Beat PR for the review opportunity.
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