The Flaming Lips
At War With The Mystics

THE REVIEW

I want to write these notes in one go, trying to recapture some of the spontaneity that, too often, flies away like a swan sick with bird flu every time I sit down to write something on DeBaser. I have just summoned this album from the fluctuating musical-digital ocean, and I, as Zaireeka, feel entitled to speak about it first.

1. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song. The early FL are back, from "Transmission From the Satellite Hearth," only more technological and somewhat more stylized. Urgent rhythms and seemingly dispassionate choruses. The clowns talking about death have returned.
2. Free Radicals. They’ve done Psychedelic Punk, Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Pop. What's missing besides Jazz? Maybe Soul? Here it is for you...
3. The Sound of Failure/It's Dark... Is It Always This Dark?? I don't recall a similar guitar arpeggio in their songs, it feels like Granianiello in the piece written for Murolo and Mia Martini a few years ago. A bit like a ballad flavor swaying on the sea waves. Then a light, light tune starts, somewhat typically American, a bit like a B-movie soundtrack. And finally, a surprise coda with another arpeggio and ambient and soft sounds, with a flute (or a mellotron) painting soundscapes reminiscent of the most melancholic Ravel. Very, very beautiful.
4. My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion. Sound carpets. More ambient sounds. Few chords that sway like the movements of a nighttime breath painting sweet and melancholic harmonies. A guitar solo at the end full of reverberations (here comes the psychedelia again). Beautiful. Indeed, for its overall effect, extraordinary.
5. Vein Of Stars. A simple guitar ballad with relaxed but clear rhythms, with wha-wha sounds and a very suggestive interlude melody. It reminds me a bit of "In the Morning of The Magician," but maybe I like it better. Actually, I definitely like it better.
6. The Wizard Turns On... Instrumental, with a soft final scream. It might slightly remind of Approching Pavonis Mons By Balloon. Some parts seem like improvisations (based on flute solos, or mellotron), on the edge of jazz (are they perhaps ready for psychedelic jazz??). Very, very interesting.
7. It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big, I Am So Small... Do I Stand a Chance? Here we return to the music of the Transmission parts. Irresistibly rhythmic and also somewhat banal. Yet seasoned with the same sounds from "Fight Test" from Yoshimi and certain vocal stratagems already used in "Talking 'bout the Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues" (from "Hit To Death in the Future Head"). Suddenly, the second part of the track blossoms with the tranquility of two songs before that completely frees itself of rhythm and glides smoothly wrapped in sound carpets, voice, and cold and soothing sounds. Finally, a simple guitar arpeggio to close it all. Beautiful.
8. Mr. Ambulance Driver. The song they sent out as an advance a few months ago to gauge the public. I don't find it extraordinary and maybe a bit banal. Yet this piece also has a very suggestive insert (including the wailing ambulance siren). And then, I don't know what the lyrics talk about, but I think they imply the same philosophy as "In a Priest Driven Ambulance". And I get emotional. It's not bad at all.
9. Haven't Got A Clue Once again (the third time) the rhythms of Transmission revisited with Yoshimi's sounds. At first, continuous harmonic shifts (very peculiar). Bell sounds make the atmosphere very psychedelic. And in the end, the usual calm returns to rest this time on sound carpets evoking sounds and choirs typical of "The Soft Bulletin". Very beautiful.
10. The W.A.N.D. A dispensable track that gives the impression the album is taking a break. Even though it is very well orchestrated and full of sound inventions. Let’s move on.
11. Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung. A driving rhythm traced by a bass for a building track that seems to evoke a gallop or maybe an eruption... Decent.
12. Goin' On. It ends with a very pop song albeit in the Flaming Lips' way. The harmonic progression, very beautiful, strongly recalls a track from the latest Maximilian Hecker, "Summer Days in Bloom", also very beautiful in truth. It all sounds very much like a melancholic farewell.

See you in five years. Long live the Flaming Lips.

PS. By the way, the album, as soon as it comes out, I'll run and buy it.