In the early 1970’s Queen burst onto the scene with its conversion from hard rock to a new genre that Freddy Mercury and Brian May pioneered – operatic rock. One of Queen’s progenitors, Sparks, took the genre in a related direction. They added a harder- edge with lyrics and vocals that bordered on theatre. Yet, ten years before the death of Freddy Mercury and the demise of the original Queen, Sparks’ music fell into relative obscurity even though the band continues to turn out albums.In 2003, a modified version of the operatic rock pioneered by Queen and Sparks returned with the British band The Darkness. With its hit “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” The Darkness reinvigorated a nearly dead rock genre that seemingly expired with Freddy Mercury. Not long thereafter other bands picked up the operatic rock banner and pushed it forward with a harder rock reminiscent of the early “Killer Queen” era of Queen and Sparks. One of best of those bands that I have heard is the New York-based band Flying Machines.
On their new album, also named Flying Machines, the operatic vocals of lead singer William Ryan George are reminiscent of Freddy Mercury, but have the vocal oscillations heard in Sparks’ music, and the vocal clarity of former The Darkness lead singer Justin Hawkins. The musicianship on the album may not be Brian May, but, it is impeccable. While the album may not break new ground, it is a joyous romp through the operatic rock genre punctuated here and there with a dose of orchestrated U2, Coldplay and Fountains of Wayne soundscapes. The song “Video Games” especially had me walking around humming “I’m never going to get the timing right.”
The sound is multilayered and produced in a manner that envelopes the listener. The band is tight. I do wonder whether it will hold up live since, with all the layering, it is rather hard to duplicate in concert. There are just four band members and John Wlaysewski plays both lead and rhythm guitars. Add keyboards, also played by Ryan George, drums and percussion by Ken Weisbach and bass by Evan Joyce, and that is it. I was blown away by how large this quartet sounds and can only hope it is not all studio tricks, especially since the album liner notes thank a plethora of members of the “Flying Machines Squadron.”
This album is well worth a listen. I can see how Flying Machines could become the band that again brings operatic rock to the forefront and takes it to a new level.
- Old School
Buy here: Flying Machines
http://flyingmachinesmusic.com/audio/
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