Album Review: Telenova - 'Time Is A Flower'
Easily one of Australia’s most exciting new bands, Telenova have finally released their hotly anticipated debut album Time Is A Flower.
Self-described as ‘cinema for your ears’, the band lean heavily into world building not just with their music but also through crafting countless moments for fans to engage with. From interactive maps for fans in Australian cities to secret headline shows in London, the sense of community the band are cultivating is as strong and cohesive as their sound. Telenova have been busy setting the scene and with Time Is A Flower’s release, they’re now stepping confidently into the limelight.
Time Is A Flower opens with the smokey song ‘The Wallpaper’, immediately ushering listeners into Telenova’s grandiose world, before swiftly launching into previous releases ‘Teardrops’ and ‘Power’.
‘Teardrops’ is a hypnotically moody disco track with lyrics that teeter on the precipice of light and dark: “a teardrop on the fire of sunshine”. Telenova’s slick blend of chiaroscuro-esque composition sees crystalline choruses contrasted against the distorted closing refrain “throwing all my words like a weapon / was not my intention”.
Chatting about the meaning of the song, singer Angeline Armstong said: “We wanted to capture the volatile nature of our ever-changing human emotions in this song. I have this innate longing and hope for stability and joy, but in tension to that, I often find myself doing and saying things I don’t mean to say or feel. Josh and I were interested in exploring that tension in the lyrics, how sometimes even the journey towards happiness and light can be tinged with a sadness or darkness.”
The gorgeously rich ‘Power’ brims with melodramatic strings and undeniable disco influence while its lyrics explore the oh-so-human desire for connection and community. Speaking on the tune, Armstrong explains: “It’s a cry of a human being reaching out to something bigger, not wanting to be abandoned. The song resonates on various levels, from romantic love to a deeper spiritual connection. Beneath the disco-infused beats lies a multi-layered narrative of love and existential longing.”
As the album unfurls, we’re brought further into Telenova’s increasingly cinematic world. ‘Margot’ is one of the highlights of the album with its rapid fire verse and vivid storytelling - an absolute gem of dark romanticism and alt pop. The trio’s songwriting paints a vivid picture, setting the mise en scene seamlessly: “Margot lies on the lawn / she flicks through magazines / the words she never reads / it's all for show”. As the record develops, a bouncing beat swings in whipping intensity and longing together into one insanely danceable track. It's easy to imagine crowds at the upcoming live shows singing the earworm refrain back at the trio: “should have known better than to think I could forget her / Heaven could have sent her / did I have it all wrong?”.
The middle section of the album burrows down with three poignant tracks: ‘Tremors, Traces’, ‘January’ and ‘Restless’. All of which retain Telenova’s signature psychedelic tinged instrumental but take a closer look at forms of heartbreak.
‘January’ is a particularly beautiful track, tenderly exploring the fear of losing a loved one. Described as “a song for when words aren’t enough” by the band on social media, its lyrics wrap around like a balm: “all the stars that shine above me will say the words that I can’t say”.
The eponymous ‘Time Is A Flower’ has some of the most stunning lyrics of the album: “we watch the sun on your ceiling / dancing in a prism of light”. Telenova revel in finding bright beauty in the most mundane settings, adding a cinematic spin to everything they touch. The instrumental is pared back, softer to match the shimmering mystics of the lyrics. They lean heavily into romantic imagery of nature scenes, from flowers to the sun on the ocean, adding a timeless feel to the emotions described.
Injecting energy back into the tracklist, the brilliant ‘Discotheque Inside My Head’ repackages insecurity and anxiety into a confident, glimmering anthem. The trip-hop samples and disco influence meld with Telenova’s signature alt-pop stylings to make this a stand-out on the tracklist. The accompanying music video is well worth a watch; a 6-minute musical dripping with Telenova’s creative genius and flair for the aesthetic.
Entirely enthralling, ‘Discotheque Inside My Head’ is the most brilliant form of self-empowerment, who doesn’t want to turn a cacophony of internal anxiety into a danceable melody? Further explaining the tune, Armstrong said: “Sometimes all the noise and voices of my inner critic make me feel like I’m spinning around, lost in an overwhelming disco of light and sound inside my head. I’m discovering the key to living with that level of self-doubt and noise is learning to dance along with the discothèque.”
For those not yet in the know, Telenova have an alter ego Telenoir where they remix their own songs. The Telenoir version of ‘Discotheque Inside My Head’ is sultry, smokey and utterly captivating - a must-add to your playlists.
‘The Preamble’ feels like the most unexpected track of the Time Is A Flower. Decidedly grungy and gritty guitars combine with a lulling refrain “I’ve got a feeling / I’ve been here before” to create a track that while brief, is entirely mesmerising.
Penultimate song ‘Heaven’s Calling’ sees the sun begin to set on the album. Drenched in golden angelic harmonies, the dreamlike imagery lulls listeners making sure they stay immersed in Telenova’s universe until the final track.
If ‘Heaven’s Calling’ is the album’s sunset, then closing tune ‘Birds Of Paradise’ is twilight. The band pull out all the stops for some high class melodramatic alt pop. Inky and moody, the song builds from eerie melodies and hazy pacing to angelic harmonies over soft strings. Deepening in intensity to a climatic electric guitar solo - a truly cinematic finish to an entirely enthralling, sweeping album.
It almost feels obvious that Telenova are on their way to Big Things, with Time Is A Flower as another signpost in their well-deserved ascent.
The next of these big moments will be their slew of tour dates coming up across the UK and further afield. The tour includes October headline shows in London and Manchester- we highly recommend you snatch a ticket now as we wouldn’t be surprised if the trio won’t be playing such intimate venues for much longer.
Words by Ella McLaren
