Elysian -The Flamingo Yard

Elysian

The Flamingo Yard

Toxicwear 2001

CD

by Julie Johnson

After a year Elysian is back with new music, new members, and a slighly different sound. The CD is seems to be more downbeat with darker elements. The lead off track "The Ghost Inside" sends of a creepy vibe with the more acoustic sound of the guitar with gentle piano that lurks. The vocals have 2 different styles from more raw, to a Robert Smith melody. The Ghost Inside is slow, and has a soft glowing feel, with all the right spookiness. "Garden", the second track picks up nice with a good drum intro with many other instruments working as well to create an ethereal atmosphere. The vocals again, have a mixture type sound with raw and emtional style. "Garden" is a little more tempo over the first track. So far, both tracks have standout Cure influence. "Angle" has that thick accoustic and bass sounds that trickle like a soft drizzle. The vocals reach a higher range, and patch the music fairly well. The vocals mix into each other with the more deeper and reaching out vocals. "Planting" is one of the darkest songs on this CD, and have more industrial elements, and faster drum programming. I really enjoyed the more noisy sounds mixed with the bass and the more quiet but clear vocals. "When She" is probably my favorite track. It has a nice catchy melody, and again more noise mixed in with the guitar. The drums are standout, and mix up the melody well.. The vocals sort of remind me of Romeo Void, that sways and bounces. "Bloom after You" has sort of a lounge type ethereal jazz feel. It has a sneaky suspenseful sound. I like this sound, and it is definitely different from any of the other tracks on this CD. Elysian is back with full force. The band has definitely been busy the past year, and it shows, and has fun with us searching for the hidden track 77 that is just over 20 minutes long.