Canadian-based Flowers and Sea Creatures are Graham Baxter
(who sings) and Kosta Megalos (who manages all manner of
electronics). Their eponymous debut album is chock-full of the
kind of melodies and harmony which makes my hairy ears tingle.
The eleven well-constructed songs in this collection deserve
to earn them attention both inside and outside the mainstream
flow of the listening world. The word "mellow" comes to mind
but I would not want you to get the idea that their music is
in any way wishy-washy. Contrariwise, the crisp and muscular
production provided by Ewan Pearson, The Revenge and Fred
Everything ensures a good balance between the gentler and more
dance-friendly elements of the whole. It hangs together very well.
Mr Baxter has a nice voice which rides fairly high on the stave
and what his renditions lack in dynamic variation they more
than make up for in unaffected commitment and enthusiasm.
'The Sitting Room', for example, is a song whose elusive tune
possesses an almost cloistered monastic ambience. The simple but
effective two-part harmony bubbles along on wave of steady Latin-
infused rhythm. The Moroder-esque bass ostinato is a nice touch.
The naive pastoral lyrics of opening track 'Kingdom Of Los Angeles'
are supported by splendid melody given life in a soaring vocal
performance by Mr Baxter. It is one of the album's several highlights.
So too closing track 'Pale Complexion', an arrangement of dark,
brooding textures and moodily haunting vocals. A tapestry of shadows.
Elsewhere we are invited to gyrate. 'Electronique', 'A.M' and 'Division'
will all endear themselves to creatures of the night whose won't it is
to twitch and tremble until the dawn's first light. The spirit of the
eighties is well-served by all three of these laudable rhythmic inventions.
For my money, however, the lovely 'Sonic' is the cream of the crop.
A plaintive, slow-moving and soulful number to tug at your heartstrings.
The days seem to have grown shorter and darker very suddenly. Flowers
and Sea Creatures bring a little welcome warmth into the gathering gloom.
Recommended.