The Low Flying Owls - Elixir Vitae

Elixir Vitae, the Stinky Records debut by the Low Flying Owls, has an ideal dialectical relationship to two wonderful places and sounds: Californian psychedelia and British gloominess. The band effortlessly melds The Bends-era guitars with SoCal swagger to forge a sound that is thought-provoking and energetic.

The album kicks off with "Glad to Be Alive," which itself kicks off with what sounds like a nod to Cliff Burton. The song picks up a P.J. Harvey drive as lead singer Jared Southard builds almost to a screech: "Where has my faith gone/Lost in the wind/So glad to be alive." I'm a sucker for rock instrumentals, and these guys pull one off ("Babies Made") that works great with low lighting and brandy. Or flashlights and Ecstasy. One of the two. "Swingin' Sam" has the same feel as "Babies" and showcases the band's main melancholic sounds, but also has a Jefferson Airplane-approved breakdown and a fun main guitar riff. Even though it's hard to use the word "fun" to describe the Low Flying Owls, they have riffs reminiscent of Elvis Costello and the Attractions or even Green Day. I should warn you though; any relationship to pop, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Especially LFO.

Overall, the Owls are as heavy, dark and thick as a good porter. Their main themes of fear, escapism and disquiet coupled with fuzz-laden production give this whole album a self-absorbed brooding feel. Warm, but not too inviting. Not that this is new or shocking, but the Owls pull it off in a snappy fashion with the right balance of energy and lethargy.

For fans of Travis and The Verve that like the occasional Buzzsaw Lite riff, the Low Flying Owls have pulled off a deft and crafty album. Give them a listen here.

Article Author: Kris Kerzman

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