If you were to think say that Flamingo Pier have become stalwarts of Soundway Records as of late, then you would be absolutely correct. The New Zealand based collective of Dominic, Brad and Luke have developed a blossoming relationship with the label since the release of their self titled ‘Flamingo EP’ back in 2019. Fast-forward 2 years; having navigated through the midst of a global pandemic, the trio are now set to release their debut album ‘Flamingo Pier LP’. This long-play encapsulates the unique sound that the trio have established over the past few years that has come to incorporate elements of funk, disco, and jazz, all built around Afro-centric percussive elements.
Deeper Soul is somewhat of a departure from the upfront, cut-loose dancefloor vibe that harnesses the majority of this album. Staying true to its name; ‘Deeper Soul’ has its foundations in a substantially more downtempo, stripped back approach. It’s psychedelic influence hides in plain sight, organic afro-inspired percussion underpinning the calming synth top-lines that gently meander throughout courtesy of an abundance of reverb, delay, and modulation; whilst the hypnotic, funk-laden baseline injects a feeling of nostalgia that supplements the overall groove in beautiful fashion. It’s hard to pull yourself out of the time-warp of yesteryear after listening to this one!
Myles H.