Flyte - “Defender”
Photo by Katie Silvester
If you’re anything like me, you often use music as the ladder to climb out of the tarpit of emotional turmoil. After losing a loved one a couple years ago, I randomly stumbled onto the music of Flyte– most notably, the tracks “Everyone’s A Winner” and “Losing You.” These songs became my beacons of light on the long commutes to work and I wouldn’t say that they saved my life, but they definitely kept the darker thoughts from creeping in. Then, last week, I experienced another loss and through some weird, cosmic act of fate or whatever, we received a new submission from Flyte entitled “Defender,” their first release since This Is Really Going To Hurt. Needless to say, I started this review before I even pressed play.
If you’ve heard the aforementioned record, you are likely already a fan of this UK-based indie-folk duo, but what they’ve done with “Defender” is pretty special, as they seem to have returned to a much more stripped-back and intimate approach to their craft. The track begins with a simple percussive rhythm, accompanied by some bass and an acoustic guitar lick that soon becomes the anchor of the arrangement. The production is quite simple and it’s the kind of song that contains the ingredients that many artists already have in their homes, but once the vocals begin, it is quite obvious that very few possess the same kind of magic.
For those unfamiliar with Flyte, their music always consists of this rare ability to enter the bloodstream and find its way to your heart. And you will find this same sensation in “Defender,” as soon as the vocals begin. The sweet touches of an occasional harmony bring a warmth and width to the soundscape that must be experienced through headphones, and this track feels like the hand of a friend on your shoulder that keeps you from falling apart.
-TM