The Flies - 'All Too Human' (No Carbon) Released 29/10/07

It’s midnight, at a crossroads somewhere, and judging by ‘All Too Human’ it would appear that, just like Robert Johnson, The Flies have sold their souls to the devil. The one drawback in listening to their long awaited full length debut is that you might have to sell your’s too. A drug fiend’s accomplice or a paranoid insomniac’s favourite worst nightmare ‘All Too Human’ provides the soundtrack to a long and sinister journey through Twin Peaks territory. Dark, arresting, exotic, sexual and apprehensive all at once, it’s music to run out of Rizla to, comedown to or pass out to.

Non-conformist in their approach, front man Sean Cook and Emmy Award winning partners in crime Bob Locke and Tim Norfolk have successfully hijacked an established genre for an ounce of skunk and well and truly made it their own. Those already familiar with their work might be surprised that it’s not the balls out hard hitting album that many had anticipated, but The Flies tend to avoid the expected and instead, make the kind of music that they want to listen to. Alluring and seductive, the likes of ‘Walking On The Sand’ and ‘The Temptress’ with their living, breathing and mysterious qualities, entice the listener with the promise of discovering what secrets are held within Pandora’s Box, but they take no responsibility for any personal injury sustained in the process.

Throughout many of the tracks, it’s what you don’t hear that is most powerful and while ‘High’ and ‘My Pleasure’ hit hard and strain at the leash, ‘Bitter Moon’ and ‘Chills’ will lull you into a deceptive repose, only to be forcibly shaken to your feet by the title track ‘All Too Human’. It’s an album that is inherently menacing yet direct and openly honest in its nature with ‘The Elements’, ‘No Shame’ and ‘We Began’ acknowledging the appeal of forbidden fruit, empathizing with drug induced psychosis and pointing out faceless forms crouching in the shadows of deserted alleyways. But don’t let that put you off, this isn’t music exclusive to substance abuse nor are The Flies a bunch of sketchy chancers with nothing to say.

Concluding ‘All Too Human’ the trio bathe in the saddened glow of the Floyd-esque ‘One Of Them’ (probably the most ‘complete’ track of the album) in the process proving that they are a band with a natural talent and more than just a one trick pony. It’s a stunning debut in many ways and one that will appeal to those old enough to know better but still too young to care.