King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – ‘Flight b741’ album review: the sounds of pure, unadulterated fun
THE SKINNY: It’s that time of year again – a new King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard album. The Australian band are one of the most prolific acts to have emerged in the 2010s, and their reign as one of the most innovative and creative bands seems far from slowing down. With Flight b741, the band aren’t at their best, but it’s a demonstration of their ability to make a record which truly encapsulates the word ‘fun’.
King Gizzard have enjoyed a wild ride over the past few years, releasing five albums in a year (twice), experimenting with everything from heavy thrash metal to microtonal grooves and acoustic ditties, and touring the world. Many of their albums have been conceptual, too, with sci-fi stories and climate change-related lyrics defining much of their most acclaimed output.
On their new record — their 26th — the Australian six-piece play around with inspirations like American soft rock from the 1970s and country, often championing group vocals, with all of the band singing along with each other in between thumping basslines, harmonicas, sizzling guitar solos and pounding drums.
Flight b741 sounds like a group of guys just having fun, standing in opposition to fan demands for more songs to add to the Gizzverse, crazy genre experiments and 15-minute-long jams. While the band do all of these things well — and on their own accord, of course — the new album sees them disregarding all pressure and simply having a good time. Everything is upbeat and danceable, encouraging listeners to sing along and get in the party spirit. It feels like a welcome antidote for anyone feeling low, asking us to revel in silliness with them.
The album is certainly a grower; at first listen, some of the tracks feel a little underwhelming. There’s nothing here with the memorability of ‘Rattlesnake’ or the infectiousness of ‘Robot Stop’, nor are there songs as bizarrely brilliant as ‘The Lord of Lightning’ or ‘Trapdoor’.
That’s clearly not what King Gizzard was going for, though. Flight b741 offers up a slightly different side of the band, and while their musical prowess is still here, it’s definitely not the greatest thing they’ve done in recent years. Still, it’s also not their worst, either.
For fans of: Barbeques in the garden while listening to soft rock and bumming a toke from your cool uncle.
A concluding comment from my housemate: “I can’t wait for a man who spends far too much time on Reddit to explain to me how there’s actually a real complexity to the lines ‘I’ve been a silly billy.’”
Flight b741 track by track:
Release Date: August 9th | Producer: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard | Label: (p)doom records
‘Mirage City’: Listeners are introduced to the album through several pounding beats before slowing into a solitary riff, welcoming back loud drums that tease an explosion. Instead, everything mellows into a country-esque soft rock number that recalls the feeling of an easy summer afternoon. [3/5]
‘Antarctica’: The guitars on ‘Antarctica’ clearly take inspiration from classic ‘60s garage rock, with a certain roughness giving them a charming quality. Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s harmonica runs through the track, which has a slightly chaotic yet jovial feel. [3.5/5]
‘Raw Feel’: More garage-y guitars can be found here, where a steady concoction of bass, drums and harmonica come together to create an inoffensive singalong track. When the band sings, “It makes you want to scream,” there’s something bordering on cliché here, but they don’t fully cross that boundary. [3/5]
‘Field of Vision’: We’re encouraged to sing along and revel in joyousness here as members repeat each other’s lines with a sense of euphoria. More harmonica rains down on us as Joey Walker declares he has been a “silly billy.” [3/5]
‘Hog Calling Contest’: There’s something Beach Boys-esque about the way the band all sing the opening lines, but that sentiment doesn’t last long. We’re soon thrust into a song with drums so fast I bet Michael Cavanagh was wishing ex-drummer Eric Moore was back in the band to drum alongside him. [3.5/5]
‘Le Risque’: You can see why this was chosen as the lead single; it’s fun and collaborative, with four of the six members singing different verses. The bass is infectious, and you can’t help but move your shoulders in time with the track. [3.5/5]
‘Flight b741’: The band take a more laid-back approach here, but it is the prominent bass that keeps the song afloat. Sadly, it’s not the most memorable piece they’ve ever made. [3/5]
‘Sad Pilot’: This one is quite jazz-influenced, with the band again swapping vocal duties. Joey Walker brings a surprising amount of soulfulness here, which nicely contrasts with Kenny-Smith’s more abrasive twang. [3/5]
‘Rats in the Sky’: It seems like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard can’t get enough of rats. First, they’re in a nest, and now they’re in the sky, but while Infest the Rats Nest was their first proper foray into metal, this track is a lot less intense. [3/5]
‘Daily Blues’: The album ends with a very American-sounding number, proving that the band can adapt to any country’s sound with ease. As the title suggests, it’s bluesy and upbeat, encouraging us to keep dancing despite the ever-present political and social issues that it feels easy to get bogged down by. [3.5/5]
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