EP Review: Flawes - 'Lowlights'
British alt-pop trio Flawes strip back four of their favourite songs from the debut album ‘Highlights’ on new EP, ‘Lowlights’, out now via Red Bull Records.
’Lowlights’ sees Flawes debut a rawer, more emotive dimension to their music. ‘Here To Stay’ opens the EP showing off a brooding, sentimental vocal and delicate guitars, embracing dusty, energetic folk influences, a far cry from the danceable electro pop that we see on the album version.
’Don’t Count Me Out' follows, seeing heavy piano keys support the atmospheric melancholy in lead singer Josh Carruthers vocal as he determinedly laments, “before I give up this fight go on and knock me down, but don’t count me out”. A rich and emotionally dense offering free from the disjointed percussive rhythm and full, skittering sound we see on the original and it’s my favourite track on the EP.
’When We Were Young’ reveals itself full of yearning with a small slice of angst, stripping away the throbbing trance like electronics and snappy beats of its predecesso. ‘Look No Further’ rounds the EP off , stepping away from the retro indie pop influences of its original to embrace an organic warmth and that leaves it listener feeling thoroughly pacified.
On the ideas behind the EP, Flawes explains. “‘Lowlights’ is a selection of songs from our debut album that have been stripped right down to their bare bones. We love to create a huge wall of sound when playing live, so to mix things up we decided to challenge ourselves and take the complete opposite approach. The songs are so exposed, there’s almost nowhere to hide. ‘Don’t Count Me Out’ in particular is literally just a piano and vocal, taking the song right back to where it started life.”
Flawes are currently working on some brand new songs with more releases to be announced later this year.
Words of Karla Harris