Edinburgh-based band Flame captures the immediacy of their live sound on Medea In Blue, a six-track EP recorded in a rehearsal studio in the heart of the city. The release finds their grunge, shoegaze, funk, and soft-rock influences meeting a raw performance style built around expressive lead delivery and alternative-rock intensity.
“Naive” opens the EP by showcasing the band’s penchant for momentum-filled songwriting, beginning with a jangly spaciousness and slight percussive pitter-patter before expanding into a fervent rock allure. The lead delivery emits a melodically gripping presence throughout, cohesively intermingling with lush keys and erupting guitar work. The ensuing “Tornado” is another gem, commencing with a lovely build-up of bass, guitar, and lush piano. The phrasing here assumes a more laid-back appeal initially in its “tornado, oh pouring rain” depictions, with a bluesy soulfulness that builds enjoyably into expanses of jangling guitars and added backing harmonies just before the one-minute turn. The opening one-two punch shows a dynamic entrancement, from the punchy immediacy of “Naive” to the more sweltering soulfulness apparent in “Tornado.”
The rest of the EP continues to delight, as well. “Take the Rubbish Out” revels in the blurring effects of intoxication, admitting “I don’t wanna see too clearly” alongside a lovely haze of glistening keys and subdued guitars. The “tryna set this night on fire” moment is stirring as performance intensity ascends alongside bursting guitar work and steady percussion, into an enthralling “crumbling down” melodic elongation. Propelled by outstanding lead performances and savvy rock songwriting, Medea In Blue is a stellar new EP from Flame.
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“Tornado” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
