Album Review: Flamingo Pier – Flamingo Pier (Soundway)

Since 2015 Flamingo Pier have been running dance parties in London and, more recently, an annual boutique event on Waiheke Island. To coincide with the 2019 Waiheke Island event they  released their self titled debut EP and this was followed a year later by a second EP, Indigo. These eight tracks showed that they could create enjoyable and original dance music as well as choose well for great playlists and DJ sets.  

Unlike other bands who had the disadvantage of being apart due to the pandemic, Flamingo Pier had the advantage of being in New Zealand. The three members Luke Walker, Brad Craig, and Dominic Jones used the opportunity to work together at Luke’s Manurewa studio, and then Roundhouse studio, to produce this debut album. The album also has contributions from past Flamingo Pier event participants such as saxophonist Nathan Haines, drummer Julien Dyne and vocalist Jess Penson of Kédu Carlö. The result is forty minutes of joyful and heart-warming disco influenced house music.

The opener Eternal has slabs of synthesiser chords before Nathan Haines’ sax rises up over pulsing keyboards and drums. The repetitive mantra “you got me turning, you got me turning a love eternal” quickly engrains itself in your head as the sax, keys and vocals continue over a persistent drum rhythm. Periodically the beat is paused and the instruments gradually resume the groove. This track has been designed to get people feeling good and dancing and sets the style for the album.

Once Eternal has got people on the dance floor, Last Call, will keep them there. Over a mechanised drum beat there is an echoing keyboard and swathes of brass. Vocals by Jess Penson tell a tale of a last chance that should not be missed, “it’s the last call, you never you knew how good it could be.” The vocals, keyboard, sax, and drums take turns to be at the top of the mix.

The tone and volume shift to build up your expectations before everything but the vocals drops out. This pattern repeats itself and there is a great mid section where the brass floats over the top of all the other instruments. With so much going on this could get messy, but the clear production gives space for all the instruments and vocals to contribute. This is the stand out, and longest, track of the album.

The next two tracks use funky chopped guitar riffs. Honey is a complex track with a bubbling bass groove. Julien Dyne’s drum and percussion work is at the heart of the dynamics of the song. Over the drums there are are hushed vocals and high jazzy guitar notes which make the track sound intriguing. On Lost But I’m Leading the funky guitars are up in the mix over a pulsing drum and faint vocals. As the track develops the saxophone takes over from the vocals and the keyboards add texture.

Afro funk drum rhythms are key to Make You Wonder. In addition there is a swelling synthesiser noise punctuated by the guitars and the chant like vocals. The percussion is also significant on the instrumental Cosmic Sunset. This track has a Latin feel and guitars that call and respond to each other. It repeatedly builds towards what you think will be a euphoric climax. Instead the intensity drops and you are back in the build of the groove.

A slow deep drum beat starts the final track Deeper Soul. Waves of synthesized noise wash over to create a sense of anticipation. In the background congas are patted and brass sounds echo. Half way through the track the vocal incantation “deeper soul” starts. The ominous sounding vocals are accentuated by the slabs of synthesiser and drums which rattle mysteriously throughout.

During July there will be DJ sets and full band events in New Zealand to promote the album. In addition the album also has shorter radio edits of Eternal and Last Call which will hopefully lead to more people hearing them and then exploring further.

This is a hooky, funky and infectious collection of tracks that will slot well into any playlist of classic house and get people smiling and dancing.

John Bradbury

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9CQVqI6dv4