Fling Or Die, the debut record from Bradford outfit FLING is an album that will sit in a place of great affection in your record collection. It jerks and flows, is smooth and rough, and ultimately, it is brilliantly intriguing.
Opener ‘Welcome To The City’ is the perfect introduction to FLING. With Charles McSorely’s vocals sounding like an early Damon Albarn, and a seemingly freestyle approach, there are signs of Primal Scream circa Screamadelica too. This song says we are all humans, we are all living in this world - now we get to step into the weird and wonderful world of FLING.
The beginning of ‘Extra Special’ echoes sound effects from old Kung-Fu movies and it's the sort of bold direction that explains the swashbuckling attitude of this song. There is a flowing quality in the track, with guitars trickling rather than strumming and there are notes of early MGMT too. On ‘That’s Nice’, we are gifted a tune that swells with synth-rinsed gloriousness. The ever present pulsing of the synth accentuates an 80s feel, with the interjecting groove of a groaning bassline. ‘Annie’ takes a turn to a different dimension, with strolling guitars that stride through the simmering backdrop of a marching bassline and encompassing drums. Changes in pace and multifaceted instrumentals mean that it is a job to put a finger on them, and that is exactly where the excitement lies.
The lyrics in ‘Just A Dog’ sound like an insight into a guy’s mind who is struggling with the tribulations of love and the anxieties of wanting to be loved. This is the experimental and brazen tale of a guy who is completely torn, “why am I so lost, I’ve got your love”. With a riff straight out of the Rolling Stones rehearsal room, ‘Banjo Billy’ is a sure-fire favourite. “Banjo Billy aaaah-aaah-ah, oh Billy Billy Banjo” is the type of chorus that is irrefutably infectious and fun-loving. Here, FLING have truly opened up and invited us all to their party.
‘I’m Fine’ is rounded by the howling wind in the background, creating a depth to it’s sound. “I’m fine, and I tell you that I’m fine and I lie and I lie” sounds like a cry for help. It is a song for thinking, for considering, while ‘Revolution’ further accentuates the experimental qualities of this band, it sounds huge, with a nod to Chemical Brothers’ ‘Let Forever Be’.
The line “I’m a lonely king trapped in my palace and I’m needing a queen” on ‘Girl’ threatens to be one of the best lyrics on a brilliantly written album. Jazz-like drums, harmonica solos and 60s lalalas make this one a bohemian anthem, before album finale ‘Black and White Fibbers’ sounds like it was made using a sound tiles on a phone app.
Fling Or Die is an album compiled of so many original ideas and sounds. The nonchalance of a footloose attitude and the bravery to admittedly have fun whilst doing so is enriching. Even though the originality is there, everything is rooted or tilting towards elements of other bands, such as Pond and Palma Violets. Each track is so unique of each other but they sit as one brilliant collective. If you want something different, if you want something to unleash that inner silliness, then look no further.
