The passage of time is something that is difficult to comprehend; it is natural as it is simply the way the world works but this year in particular has been a time that is certainly elusive with lockdowns across the world and an ongoing pandemic. London-based rock-n-roll band Flare Voyant had originally planned to release Elusive Times earlier in the year, but postponed the release due to the lockdown. And now, the country has returned to lockdown right when gigs were just beginning again with social-distanced precautions in place and musicians could finally experience the joy of creating and playing music again. Unfortunately, it looks that gigs will be on hold again, but this is still a time of creativity in which musicians have found unique ways to record over phone when they cannot be in the studio. In Flare Voyant's case, they had recorded the EP early enough that the recording was not impacted by the pandemic, even if the original release date was postponed.
Flare Voyant by Sam Huddleston
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Elusive Times is Flare Voyant's strongest release. I had the chance to hear it many, many months ago before our vocabulary was tainted with words like 'national lockdown'. I was simply blown away from the opening title track that captures fascination in its being and resembles a similar sound to the band's early song of "Midnight Lady" with its captivation, something that its complex nature only strengthens. "Nimby" and "Paul's Funky Cab" sound to be in the same vein of funk allurement and continue the wave of fascination. The last track "Hermitage" is one of the strangest the band has released. Their dive into the transcendent world is more haunting in nature than the other tracks; while it may not be as catchy as "Nimby", "Hermitage" is the song that will evoke wonder, amazement, and mesmerism. Before the release, Flare Voyant released music videos for "Hermitage", "Nimby", and "Paul's Funky Cab".
Earlier this year, I interviewed guitarist Rod Bourganos about the EP:
What are the origins of Flare Voyant?
Rod: Flare Voyant started as an idea and remained like that for around 3 years while the pieces of the puzzle were being assembled. The project only materialized once we gathered in London and recorded our debut EP with Chris Kimsey in January 2017. However, the instrumental sections of the demos that we showed to Chris Kimsey were recorded back in 2014, and the vocals were recorded in 2015. This material was only released in 2018, as the throwback EP Seeds of the Flamboyant!
What is the meaning behind the phrase ‘Elusive Times’?
Rod: Well, what is more elusive than time? It's not palpable and by the time I finish typing this answer, it’s already gone. Besides, we're currently living in remarkably elusive & chaotic times.
Which song off the EP are you proudest of?
Rod: I believe we're proud of them all in different ways. Thomas is particularly fond of “Hermitage'' as he loves to use music as a form of transcendence, Anthony really digs the syncopation of “Nimby”, Grisha thinks we finally managed to manifest "big balls" on a record. I believe the track “Elusive Times” has a very cool riff and an interesting structure of time signatures, and I am also very keen on our version of “Paul's Funky Cab”, a song that I made for Bombay Groovy.
Are the songs based off current events, such as how “Borders” was a direct response to xenophobic policies?
Rod: Not particularly, at least not as much as “Borders”. Nimby is a shout against music venues being closed by noise complaints, which is possibly the most contemporary topic of the EP.
I know Flare Voyant has performed the new songs live before. How did the audience react?
Rod: We`ve been performing all of them since September 2019 and they're usually highlights of the set! This release will be hard to beat.
What is the general message you are trying to get across on the EP?
Rod: There's no unifying concept, each song is a universe on its own from hermeticism to noise complaints, London cabs and the perception of time. We hope each of them will inspire the listener as much as they inspire us!
Listen to Elusive Times here: https://open.spotify.com/album/1lXqb6qgs8X8vjlE5oNG7w?si=KArc_E1hRPWcHFwPplIk8g
Watch the music videos here:
"Hermitage"
"Nimby"
"Paul's Funky Cab"