“Time is a flower that blooms as every hour goes by/ And after all maybe time is not a line from beginning to the end…” – opener The Wallpaper expands on this album’s title, offering thematic insight.
Although recently formed, the previous projects of all three Telenova members achieved notable success: lead singer Angeline Armstrong, also a filmmaker, was one half of Beachwood and multi-instrumentalist/producers, Joshua Moriarty and Edward Quinn, were formerly of Miami Horror and Slum Sociable respectively.
“Cinema for your ears” is how Telenova describe themselves. They’re the whole package, as well: musically gifted, telegenic and top content creators to boot.
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Throughout, Armstrong’s vocals are delicate and longing – particularly her upper register – but also steadfast (eg. Tremors, Traces: a piano house-led highlight featuring vibrant bongos). While “pulled over on the side of the road, crying into [her] journal”, Armstrong penned January’s lyrics as a love letter to her “first friend” who had almost died that day.
We’ve heard Margot goes off live, which comes as no surprise: “Shoulda known better than to think I could forget her/ Heaven could’ve sent her, did I have it all wrong?” – that staccato chorus is so immediately catchy!
Lyrical repetition is used brilliantly and hypnotically at various points (see: Preamble – “I’ve got a feeling I’ve been here before,” especially when repeated, gives déjà-vu). Tamil Rogeon’s string arrangements, brought to life by more than 20 musicians, provide a swoon-worthy throughline.
Time Is A Flower captures the human experience in all its messy, flawed, topsy-turvy glory.
LABEL: EMI
RELEASE: OUT NOW
