Single Review : Flowers for Juno “Message to Lana”
Having
recently reviewed Flowers for Juno’s previous single My Bloody Kisses,
which evoked the brooding elegance of Type O Negative, Message to Lana
sees the band exploring slightly different sonic terrain while maintaining
their signature gothic, shoegaze atmosphere.
From the
opening moments, the track exudes a sense of disorienting excess, perfectly
mirroring Benjó James’ anecdote about its creation. The vocals, fuzzy and
distorted as ever, carry a haunting weight, conveying both regret and longing.
While the distortion can make the lyrics difficult to decipher at times, it
only adds to the spectral quality that James expertly crafts. Interpolations
from Ugly Bitch by the Mags introduce an unexpected tonal shift,
seamlessly blending into the track’s climactic outro.
Instrumentally,
the song is a rich tapestry. Freja Crozier’s Northumbrian harp adds a delicate,
ethereal counterpoint to James’ layered guitars, keyboards, fuzz bass
synthesizers, and drum programming. The programmed drums provide a steady
backbone, but it is the interplay of keyboards and synth textures that truly
captivates, leaving one almost wishing for an instrumental version to fully
savor the arrangement.
Message
to Lana
demonstrates Flowers for Juno’s ability to push sonic boundaries, fusing gothic
heaviness with shoegaze atmospherics and subtle experimental flourishes. The
track is haunting, immersive, and a testament to James’ ever-expanding creative
vision.
After this
compelling single, we eagerly await the full album, which, hopefully, won’t be
long in coming!
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