A talented trio of brothers from Belfast are said to be multi-instrumentalists who are “quickly carving a niche for themselves with a unique genre-crossing sound”. Unsure of just what genres we’d be crossing the EP title of “Kill Your Darlings” had me a little worried but the opening track served to confuse even more.
A short 54 second a cappella that sounds like a mash up of The Bee Gees and Bohemian Rhapsody, the vocal tripod opens the album with a melancholic blend of harmonies with an ethereal quality to it. An interesting intro to say the least…
‘Who Are You?’ What loveliness has been poured into my ears? Like musical silk being intricately woven through my ear canal and enveloping my brain with a relaxed joy. The vocals and perfectly layered harmonies interwoven with the gentle and slow moving guitar melody is such a blissful listening experience that when the smooth string symphony glides in to carry the tune to a whole new level of loveliness, you are succumbed to a puddle of melted relaxation.
The laissez-faire theme is carried throughout this EP. ‘Fantasy Islands’ is a dreamy lullaby that gently soothes you into complete submission. Perhaps the brother’s musical style was an inspiration for the name ‘Lazy Flies’! Amongst all the serenity there are elements of effervescence. ‘Tin Man’ opens with an almost regal air to it and then moves into a more whimsical ditty. Although it has a more light-hearted feel, it still serves to highlight the bands air tight vocal abilities and impressive brass wielding skills as they interject with an Old El Paso style trumpet accompaniment.
With such an eclectic mixture of genres and musical eras intermingled to create a funky, smooth, toe-tapping blend of Jack Johnson to The Beach Boys, ‘This Van is Empty’ truly adds merit to the claim of the Lazy Flies sound being “wonderfully recognisable yet totally unique.”
◀ STANDOUT ⁞ This Van is Empty ▶
◀ SOUNDS LIKE ⁞ Jack Johnson | Beck ▶
