-=- SHGZ -=- * Shoegaze * Indie * Post-Rock * Grunge * Dream Pop * Psych-Rock * Ethereal * ARTIST..: Night Flowers ALBUM...: Fortune Teller GENRE...: Indie STYLE...: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Dream Pop YEAR....: 2019 LABEL...: Dirty Bingo COUNTRY.: UK PLACE...: London ENCODER.: LAME 3.100 -V0 BITRATE.: 248 kbps avg QUALITY.: 44.1kHz / Joint Stereo SOURCE..: CD TRACKS..: 8 SIZE....: 49.20 MB URL..: http://www.facebook.com/wearenightflowers - TRACKLIST 1 Night Train 4:38 2 Lotta Love 4:20 3 Merry-Go-Round 2:25 4 Perfect Storm 1:40 5 Fortune Teller 3:22 6 Carry On 3:19 7 I've Loved You (Such A Long Time) 4:00 8 No Coming Down 3:07 Total Playtime: 26:51 Fortune Teller is the second album by indie pop band Night Flowers, following their debut Wild Notion, which came out in spring 2018. The fans that fell in love with the band's dreamy, romantic style, and the lilting vocals of Boston born vocalist, Sophia Pettit, will not be let down by the new album. Fortune Teller contains all the elements that made the band's first album so successful, while introducing new influences, from artists such as Fleetwood Mac, that enrich this latest collection of songs. Many of the songs have a slightly more rocky feel that is reminiscent of the 80s, particularly noticeable in tracks such as Merry Go Round and I've Loved You (Such a Long Time), which have the echoing riffs and synth pop style of that era. Night Train is a well chosen opening track, with a slow build up full of locomotive-esque drums and soaring guitar. An entirely new element is introduced with the addition of vocals from Greg Ullyart, the band's guitarist, in a harmony that allows the singers to complement each other perfectly. The song is, along with Merry Go Round and Fortune Teller, one that stands out for its infectious, uplifting melody. They may not be songs that you would listen to before going out, but they would be perfect for a lazy summer day. On the other end of the spectrum there are tracks like Perfect Storm and Not Coming Down, which are slower and more melancholy. These are songs for rainy days and night time driving (if you don't find them too soporific). Perfect Storm, the last song to be added to the album, was recorded on an iPhone in a Hackney kitchen, giving it an endearing lo-fi quality. Perhaps the one criticism for the album is that it is not one that takes many risks. It is easy listening; there is nothing experimental about it. But there's no mistaking the band's hazy signature sound, made even better with its distinctive nod to 80s rock. And the sweet, delicate vocals of Pettit, which come through raw and emotionally charged, ensure that the band never lose their authenticity. * 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. * About: Night Flowers are five friends based in East London, but all originally from Humberside. Their first tracks æSingle BedsÆ and æNorthÆ were released as a free download in summer 2013. They play melodic indie rock/pop music influenced partly by 80s jangle and early 90s shoegaze. In early 2015 Hetty Ullyart left the band and was succeeded by Sophia Pettit. -=- SHGZ -=- P.S. ** Thanks *** *** BCC FNT IPC SSR *** *** For Knowing Where The Music Is At *** *** Props to CaHeSo, awesome Asian Indie/Shoegaze *** *** And to FANG/HOUND for supporting all the Indie lovers out there *** --===-- ********************* * NuHS we miss you! * *********************