Bad Flamingo – Velvet
The less you say, the more you allow others to speak about you. The less that you reveal about yourself and your true intentions, the more others, desperate to make sense of what’s going on, will have to fill in the details.
Mystery is a long-lost art in the world. And, even in pop music, a place dominated by myth and half-truths, this knowledge is turning into a secret. Sure, there are numerous bands who wear masks nowadays. But are they really hiding anything?
Bad Flamingo is a musical duo that doesn’t just look like it’s on the run from the law, or living in a sleepy town, hiding away and awaiting a final showdown. This is a band that sounds like it will only give you crumbs of the real story with each appearance.
“Velvet” provides another glimpse into one of the possible truths about one of psych-pop’s most important young bands. This is a rare display of tenderness. It’s a song that, while it carries the influence of outlaw country and 80s synth pop, is the closest you’re likely to hear a romantic ballad from Bad Flamingo.
Outpacer – Always Late
The story of the modern, civilised world is a history of people learning to sit up straight and take commands. Yeah, maybe your school teacher was right, and the world can simply not work any other way. But it’s also true that in order to make things function, plenty of rules have needed to be put in place and most people have needed to be bent into shape around them.
But the truth is that while most folks keep a calm, respectful exterior going, that’s not the way that they want to live. No, they want to scream out in joy when they fall in love and they want to break down in tears when the love story ends. People want to share their emotions with others and want to make sure that others understand how they feel, and that is why Outpacer can resonate with many audiences.
Outpacer’s “Always Late” is constructed around expectations. You know other songs like these, and you know how they’re supposed to make you feel. You expect the tension of a verse like the one in “Always Late” to be resolved by a fantastic chorus. And this is what Outpacer provides. This is something that people need in their lives.
