Flare

Description

Brighton-based band Plantoid, hailed as leaders of the new British prog-rock scene by critics who praised their debut album "Terrapath" released in 2024, return with their enigmatic, captivating, and exhilarating second opus, "Flare." Following the success of their debut album Terrapath, which solidified their status as standard-bearers for the UK's burgeoning prog-rock scene, Plantoid return with an enigmatic, captivating, and at times outright exhilarating second effort, Flare. Sticking true to the band's math-rock roots, the album is replete with heavy, reverbed guitar riffs, tempo changes and psychedelic chord progressions, whilst expanding Plantoid’s characteristic sound into new pastures such as shoegaze and vocal-driven rock-pop. It does what all second albums do best: retain the DNA that made its predecessor stand out, whilst evolving enough to excite old fans and new listeners alike. “During the creation of Flare, we consciously acknowledged that our sound was very erratic,” explains drummer Louis Bradshaw, who along with vocalist/guitarist Chloe Spence and lead guitarist Tom Coyne forms Plantoid’s core. “We never stayed on one register for too long. Before embarking on the writing process for this album, we wanted to slightly redefine our approach, which is now less directly prog. It moves a little away from that sound, while retaining its character.” If you’re here for the tempo changes, lengthy track times and mid-song improvised jazz sections, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of that to be found across the album’s sprawling nine tracks. It’s just that Plantoid have tapped into something deeper, something more lived in. With the help of producer and sometimes band member Nathan Ridley, who has helped the band forge their sonic identity since Terrapath, they sought to let their groovier side run free, dissecting their songs further and letting their ingredients properly ferment to give birth to something new. “We wanted to soak in the music for a while, create a mood rather than change it too quickly,” Chloe explains. “We wanted to see ideas fully develop.” This artistic evolution was due to particular circumstances, but also to a creative desire. After spending a full year performing live to promote Terrapath, the band needed to step away from the hustle and bustle to fully focus on their next chapter. This refuge took the form of a writing retreat in Anglesey, Wales, where their label was able to connect them with [XX] Laurie [XX], who allowed them free use of his converted studio. Under the Snowdonia mountains (which also served