Keep Flying – Revival EP Review
Described as punk rock with a horn section, Northeast US band Keep Flying is all that and more, as their newest EP Revival showcases their talents in a totally unique way, melding together many different genres into one, that can only be described as Keep Flying. The EP features some tracks that are revisited such as “Firesale” and “They Never Lie Down” as well as new ones such as “Candy Cane Forest 2”, their first single off the record.
Despite some of the songs being out already, the reimagined versions of them are wonderful and make the listener feel like they’re hearing a whole new song. Keep Flying is testified to have a must-see live show and it’s clear that this EP will be something to behold in a live setting if one ever has the chance. The EP sits at the twenty-one minute mark, providing a comfortable amount of time for one to get through the whole project on a local drive, and once they’re headed back home, they’ll be spinning the EP over again, hearing little nuances they didn’t hear the first listen-through.
The EP opens with the first revisited track, “Firesale” with a calming acoustic and saxophone, embellished by trombone. Soon after, vocals come in with beautiful harmonies and strings that support in the background, yet the drums are pure punk, with the snare cutting right through the mix and crashes that carry the song along to a soft acoustic ending that leads the listener directly into the first single from the project.
“Candy Cane Forest 2” blasts into the scene right after “Firesale (Revisited)”, full with banjo, horns, and a blindingly fast snare drum pattern that is reminiscent of a country track. Yet, Keep Flying maintains that punk sound as well with the vocals and drums never giving up that twinge of raucous rock that this band was formed from. The lyrics are relatable and easily sung along to, with lines like “Will someone out there please explain/The difference between love and pain/Cause I’ve been trying to figure out why they’re starting to feel the same” echoing throughout the song, making the listener really ponder the meaning behind his words.
The next track “Fashion Statement (Remix)” has two features credited to Greg Rivers & Murf, who together with Keep Flying turn this track into an amalgamation of rock and hip-hop. The track opens with horns and synths yet has those punky live drums along with crunchy power chords towards the beginning before the drums drop out for trap hi-hats and booming 808s. As the programmed drums take the lead, the features spit a couple verses over the beat, until the song gives way back to Keep Flying’s vocalist, hearkening back to their emotional lyrics with an emo twist on the timbre of his voice, until the song fades out to give way to the fourth track on the record.
Keep Flying delves into their pop sound with the fourth track “Clarity”, continuing with the programmed drums, now adding claps instead of a snare, making it clear this isn’t like the rest of the EP. Yet, out of their ‘typical’ sound, Keep Flying remains comfortable, still throwing those horns in there along with his introspective lyrics that really resonate with the listener. The vocals sound huge as well, clearly being tracked many times over, giving that sort of wall-of-sound that encases the listener. Towards the end of the track, the instrumentation begins a crescendo that incorporates some atmospheric cymbal swells before the vocalist says one final line as the track finishes off.
The fifth track is another revisited song, entitled “They Never Lie Down (Revisited)”. Taking a slower approach, strings and acoustic guitar hold down the rhythm for this track as horns embellish throughout along with backing vocals that make the song feel truly full. Both saxophone and trombone have a beautiful solo on this track, really showing the fine control over their instruments. The lyrics also reference their local area, with lines like “It’s only New York air I’m breathing now,” and “Jersey traffic taught never to slow down,” giving listeners from these states a reason to perk their ears up and represent their home.
The final track “L.T.D.A.” feels like a ska song, with the horns really carrying the melody for this song. There is plenty of acoustic guitar that gives the song a lot of texture. Listening closely, there’s whistling in there too that really adds to that texture and makes the track feel homely. The horns are the real stars of this track though, as they really allow the song to be taken to that next level with the fullness that they add to the song. Interestingly, the drums continually switch from four-on-the-floor to half-time which helps the track serve well as a closer to the EP. As the song ends, backing gang vocals come in that cement those lyrics “Just to stay alive/I had to give myself a way/We had a funeral and birth in the same day.”
Keep Flying’s new EP Revival has a wide range of sound that is a complete, whole project, still maintaining their classic sound that they’re loved for. Ranging from pop, to folk, to punk, there’s something for anyone to love within this project. After revisiting some old tracks with a new take as well as hearing some entirely new tracks, the whole EP feels unique, which is something that’s hard to come by nowadays. Revival will be released on August 12th on all streaming services and Keep Flying will be on tour from August and September, so be sure to catch them live and witness their art first-hand!