Music Review: La Fleur Fatale - Silent Revolution

Remember, when you were young, the fun you could have with a chemistry set? A splash of green liquid, a red crystal or two, a drop of blue, heat it up and suddenly it smokes. Well, Sweden’s La Fleur Fatale are my chemistry set of the moment as they successfully mesh shades of Brian Wilson, John Lennon, and The Byrds to create a glorious haze of vivid technicolour. 

Last year, when they released their Night Generation album, I enthused on this very site by writing, “curiosity always gets the better of me. Sometimes it will lead me to the parts of town that I really shouldn’t venture and other times I ‘discover’ something altogether more rewarding. I just had to see what all the fuss was about, and why a Swedish band with a French name was getting rave reviews for playing West Coast America psychedelic meshed with the best of Britpop.”

So, when the second helping, Silent Revolution, winged its way across from Scandinavia I enthusiastically became that kid playing with the crystals again.

The appropriately named “Mellow My Mind” introduces an album that drips luscious chords, chiming guitars, and classy psychedelic swirls of pure kaleidoscopic brilliance.

It leaves me lying flat on my back in Golden Gate Park gazing through the sun’s glow at the wonders beyond. Okay, maybe I kept the chemistry set a bit too long but it has to be said that this album has an undeniable power to sweep you away and transport you to an altogether better place.

“Dare To Lick (Hunter’s Red Sleeve”) opens with backward guitar, Ringoesque drumming, and Byrds style chiming guitar and harmony. If you missed them last year, welcome to the colourful world of La Fleur Fatale.

“Release The Colours In Me” soothes away the madness of modern life and leads majestically into the atmospheric storm of “The Winding Stairs To Dawn”. Electricity crackles and thunder rolls as the band add the crystals and create a smoking fusion of sound. Listen out too for a first nod to Pete Townshend.

Article Author: Jeff Perkins

Jeff is a writer who lives in France. He writes CD/DVD box sets, music reviews and has had a book published about David Byron of Uriah Heep. He is 'busy' exploring the music of Europe with his wife Debbie and dog Dylan. It's Dylan that does the writing of course. …

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