Album Review

Flash Pan Hunter – Quick Way To Enemy

• 19th Aug 2013

English beatnik Flash Pan Hunter has a rather off kilter take on pop music. The name comes from a Tom Wiats song, and that gives a good idea about what to expect here. Clark Gregg from Brighton, to give him his Sunday name, combines some interesting rhythms with poetic lyrics and sympathetic production in this very different debut album, released on FlickChop Records.

Gregg plays most of the instruments himself and the album was produced by noted folk producer Tim Bidwell Bidwell (Kate Walsh, Jennifer Left & Fink). There’s a subtlety to the song writing, with some lovely phrases hidden in amongst the strange beats and occasional bursts of orchestral instrumentation. Gregg’s old style folk phrasings shouldn’t really work alongside the more modern and, in places, poppier production, but somehow the combination comes together nicely.

The stream of consciousness Cranium gives the album a good lyrical start, the vocal setting a good pace as the insides of a mind are exposed, the “cosmos in my cranium” described rather nicely. But the best song on the album is Quiz Show, a surf rock style acoustic track about sitting on the couch wasting time and watching a mind numbing tv show. The parallels drawn between the quiz and the singer’s life are very well done.

Rose Don’t Do It also stands out, a murder ballad acted out in dramatic fashion with strident vocals. The almost jazzy and faster paced vocals of Overcome Love also work well, while the slower Patchouli, with its passionate lyrics over acoustic guitar and soft piano is plaintive and sad. Title track Quick Way To Enemy, a tale of heartbreak, is another strongly emotional song and the simple guitar strums back the vocals well, while the slowed down version of Sealed With A Kiss sounds very different, the odd drum rhythm giving it a skiffle feel in places.

There are tracks that don’t grab the attention as much. Howl At The Moon with its high pitched vocals starts well, but the lyrics become too repetitive. Never Made is only partially saved by a strong trumpet part over a rhythmic chant. And closer The Chase with its almost musical theatre stylings doesn’t quite end on the high note that the album deserves.

Flash Pan Hunter has a lovely deft lyrical touch and an ear for almost orchestral arrangement that rises at times to dominate the sound. But these momentary instrumental flourishes simply act as counterpoint to the lyrics which are poetic and stylish. The overall effect is different and unusual, and in the main very entertaining.

Venue: Quick Way To Enemy
Support Band: FlickChop Records