No longer bound by the conventions of the Brisbane scene (not that there really are any?), Melbourne-based act Flamingo Crash have released their hotly anticipated debut album Triangle Island. With expectations high by fans and critics alike, the Crash have fulfilled these very expectations for the most part on their introductory long-player, and they seem to have achieved a mature, more refined sound. Whether that’s a good thing for a band that has established itself as a purveyor of semi-experimental art-punk sound is a matter of personal opinion.
Opening with the spectacular sound of It’s Mystery Music, the act place their feet firmly on either side of the boundary of conventional-experimental style, crafting a crisp, jiveable sound reminiscent of their earlier work. Following track Yes? Yes? Yes? is an oldie but a goodie, sounding as fresh as ever, while previous vinyl release Shoot The Lights Out adds a bouncier dose of reckless pop to the proceedings, succeeding where many art-punk acts fail in terms of delivering catchy, quasi-experimental tunes.
Catchiness is maintained throughout the midway point of the album, as The Fire Song, Beijing Holiday, and the groovy S.T.F.U. allow the band to soar back toward unconventional airspace. They then swoop back with Sister Sister (I Hate The Wind But I Lovekiss The Breeze), before rising once more with Mountains for a trip-like flight through psychedelic electronica. The album streamlines once more for the final two tracks Smartbomb and Toys, ending the record with a great combination of pop, punk, electronica, and whatever else the band like to throw in for good measure. Overall a very stable debut, but only time will tell whether Flamingo Crash continue to fly to the echelons of greatness or descend toward the ground in a headwind of expectation.
