This is the debut album from Swedish psychedelic mindbenders LA FLEUR FATALE.
Reverse tracks, acoustic guitars, droning keys and sitar sounds are built over an understated yet stomping beat as first track ‘Straightway Ride’ clings to the coat-tails of the California sunrise.
Strange levitation, shining generation. Electric glowing neon flowers. All of this and more spills forth from the lyrics (sung, of course, in perfect English), and though few do Pop as well as the Scandinavians, there is still something predictably cartoon about the whole affair.
Conceptually, In places, it’s a cringing rip-off of the Roses and the brothers Gallagher, there’s a distinct lack of substance despite the music’s endearing qualities. An empty shell? In places, yes.
There are moments of clarity though. The stonky-tonk piano thump intro to ‘Children Of Neon Lights’ is a real eye-opener after three slices of dreamy psyched-eeli-arrr. The vocals sound like they’ve been fed through a chorus pedal, and lo-fi elements provide depth by contrast. Likewise, ‘Out Of Our Dream’ is a drum-rolling, slow motion piece of cheese that brings true happiness from deep within
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The atonal charm saves the overall feel from straying into stadium rock territory, but the music is not the problem here – it’s the lack of ideas, the spaces where they should be filed with shameless plagiarism. Yet more Euro-childhoods spent devouring all things ‘Mad-ches-tarr’ on mail-order 12” vinyl.
Thank Heaven for a strong finish. ‘Golden Hair’ induces feelings of déjà vu or warm familiarity, proving that the band’s influences aren’t always so patently obvious. Largely though, in Juke Box Jury terms, I’m gonna have to give this one a miss.
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