FLORAL

Mysterious but delightful mixture of guitars and drums. My first experience of FLORAL is very impressive and pleasant. I've heard a Californian math rock duo FLORAL had created, recorded, and produced material for this debut full-length eponymous album, that should be such a fantastic opus due to their hard work and strong intention. Their formation consists only of guitars and drums, no bass nor keyboards ... very simple but incredibly energetic math-y world can be launched. On top of that, every single track is short but full of up-tempo, vivacious, ultra-highly spirited sound remarks.

From the beginning, we can be relaxed by acoustic humanity in the first tip "2015" but their fascinating delight is beyond relaxation. "The Good Song" is a killer one, where the sensitive rhythm produced by Nate's guitar is pretty comfortable. And how intriguing Ty's jaunty but powerful, strict drumming is. In "Maybe Not One Day" crazy, desert-y, but smooth, delicate twin guitars-based sound texture should be just like velvet. Their guitar plays are quite complicated and dramatic but the melting, bubbling melody lines are decent and natural. Wondering why they sound so silky regardless of quirkiness. "Ebullient" has diverse, colourful rhythmic bases plus dogmatic paradoxical guitar experiments. It's understandable we can accept such an excessive movement. Across the dreamy, promising universe "2021", a cool, alternative rock-flavoured "This Year" knocks us down. Under the pandemic circumstance, they and we should get over this tough situation. Yes we will definitely have a great time in near future ... they say via this creation. In "80%" repetitive momentary phrases absorb us over and over. They bring only 80% ability into this track I imagine? And "Saturday Night" is a wonderful night. Currently we should stay home on Saturday night (and other nights too) but just like this song we can get more and more active anytime soon ... chasing a dream with them.

It's a slight pity similar crispy-tasted songs appear one after another all over the album but also a good call for us to get immersed in their ultimate tension for a short while. Recommended.

Cracked guitar.

A few years after their 2 eps Floral dropped their self titled debut lp. Here one can find ceaseless twinkly math rock runs. Aside from brief moments of contemplation this album maintains a certain sound throughout the entire album, this is not a work of variety, the interplay between a single guitarist and drummer is definitely the sole focus. I'd say if one were to hear Ebullient and be uninterested this album is definitely not worth listening to in its entirety. For me the songs all work to fabricate a flowing masterpiece of gliding notes and staccato riffage, easy 5/5 for me and worth trying for sure.

The songs are so excessive I love it.

This album is very ethereal yet ground to Earth at the same time. Perhaps it is the only way I can explain it. The guitar has a beautiful tone and the way it glides around makes me feel tranquil, and especially paired with the drums, the overall tone of the album becomes quite something. And even though the grooviness of the instruments makes me enjoy the album, I couldn't find anything that I would hum to myself after the album. I find it kind of forgettable, the riffs and groove and all. Also, if the song is too long I find myself getting quite bored of the song as it becomes slightly dull. However, the short ones such as 2021 and 2015 retain my attention and due to their shortness, I am not as bored towards the end of a song. Songs that are slightly longer, my favorite being This Year, seem to just dwindle off towards the end. However, this is only how I feel. I would still say this album is good and the instrumentation is very unique. I do not think this album is a must listen but I can see myself reading to this album or doing homework, but after my first listen, I do not feel as if I am going to return to the album to listen to its entirety with my sole focus on it. So overall it is a good, chill, relaxed album but I do not think it is something you should lay down on your bed and listen to it. 6/10.