A fine return to form for The Flashbulb, after 'Love As A Dark Hallway' which for me was a slight disappointment with its more jazzy elements. This release has much more in common with STAVL and Arboreal, although arguably on a more upbeat tip. The melancholia I associate with STAVL is replaced with an as-beautiful floaty cosmic feel in many of the tracks.
From the opening (a homage to the first track on STAVL it seems to me) I knew it was going in the direction I wanted. No filler, and a joy to listen to even for the production alone. Beautiful music, beautifully put together - an album to lie back and let wash over you.
So yeah - I love it. I think if STAVL gets a 5 from me, this has to be a 4.5, purely because of the feelings I attach to the former. Pure class though. |
