Search - Port Royal :: Flares

Headphone Commute Review

Headphone Commute | 03/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Flares is a 2005 release by a Genoa based Port-Royal on Resonant Records. I have already voted their follow-up, Afraid To Dance, to be one of the best albums of 2007. I bring back this earlier work in anticipation of an upcoming remix project, Flared Up, due out in the spring of '08, with contributions by Manual, Dialect, Skyphone, Stafrænn Hákon, and Ulrich Schnauss to name just a few. In Flares we are graced with beautiful blend of ambient meets electronic meets shoegaze meets post-rock sound, that defies strict categorization and exists only for your earthly pleasures. One needs to put down the caffeinated drink, turn off the blinking scrollies, and pause to appreciate the album's sheer vastness of hazed texture, lush chilled-out soundscapes, and pure tranquility. And here's the best part, folks (I'm quoting from the label's site) - "in preparation for the upcoming remix version, the royals have placed their debut album 'Flares' for free download from their website." So how can you pass this by? Recommended for followers of Hammock, M83, Sigur Rós, and all of the above mentioned artists. Favorite tracks: the three part Zobione."

Quite a pretty little cd.

Rusty Shackleford | 11/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Flares is a very intricate piece of work. While I will admit it takes some patience and time to understand the album, once one understands it they are rewarded greatly. The best way to describe Flares is Explosions in the Sky mixed with a less glitchy Boards of Canada with some Hammock thrown in for good measure. Stand out songs are Jeka, Flares pt. 2, and Karola Bloch. Karola Bloch has some of the most intense/emotional swells I have ever heard. It will send you into a new world. I highly recommend this cd to anyone who is into the ambient/post-rock genre."