Flares are an indie rock three piece from Essex who pride themselves on memorable riffs and an energetic live show. The band (Joe on guitars, Danny on bass and vocals, and Scott on drums) released their debut EP ‘Modern Accolade’ back in February, and their first single ‘Threats and Fables’ soon followed in March, along with a top-notch video filmed by Colchester media collective Underground Husbands. Local press and radio have already taken note, and the boys have had a decent amount of print and radio exposure, culminating in BBC 6 Music airplay on Tom Robinson’s Introducing show. They are currently writing for their debut album and are rehearsing and gigging as much as possible to spread the word.
‘Threats and Fables’ is a three minute blast of catchy indie energy, chased down with a healthy chunk of 70s punk aggression. The scene is set with an eerie, shifting shot of an all American fairground, laying down the moody/mysterious tone that the opening guitar riff stamps on the ear. The shot opens out into an underground bunker setting as the verse drives along with Danny’s raw (but effective) phrasing of ‘seeing, believing, watching, waiting’. The backing vocals echo the lead line throughout the verses, giving the track a clever catchiness (that is hard to shake off), without softening any of the drive that keeps the pulse pumping into the choruses. The recurring establishing shots that switch between each band member help generate the edgy atmosphere, adding to the idea that we are somehow intruding upon a secret gig at an underground club night, that is clearly invite only. The spectral shots that drift between foreground and background throughout the verses lull the viewer into a false sense of security before crashing into a cymbal-heavy, guitar-wielding chorus.
The backing harmonies that soothe throughout the chorus contrast nicely with Danny’s snarling vocals, and there is a nice robotic growl of ‘with broken eyes and shattered bones’ from Scott as the second chorus moves into an aggressive but clever breakdown section. At this point the background fairground/water park images really come into play, with harsh cuts blurring the lines between the reels of old film and the shots of the band. The breakdown and final chorus play out to a chaotic (but structured) finish, with Joe’s guitar screeching away and Scott’s cymbal stand suffering a typically punk rock kick from Danny.
‘Threats and Fables’ is a solid, catchy sing-along single to promote the band, featuring a memorable vocal hook (it’s hard not to hum along after the first couple of listens) and a stylish video to boot. It will be interesting to see where the band chooses to go musically, with plenty of punk attitude and indie sensitivity on show in this track. Stay tuned for the upcoming debut album and be prepared for Flares to burn out bright into 2012.
