Flats - 'Country / Moonwalk' (One Little Indian)

Flats - Country / Moonwalk

First of all I'm definitely not going to mention the fact that Dan Devine of Flats is currently in Pentonville Prison on a drug rehab programme. And the fact that he's the son of Creation Record's founder, Alan McGee. Because it's all about the music and the artwork. OH SHUT UP! Everyone loves a good rock and roll story; how else would Pete Doherty have been able to elongate his post-Libertines career with the shite that Babyshambles produced - it's all about the back story.

THE ARTWORK

It's a viscous, snarling, threatening dog framed in black. Which is pretty much a mirror image of the music. Black and white for added starkness and hinting at an age where the voice of the suppressed clamoured to be heard by the privileged, ruling few - through the medium of guitars and guttural vocals, infused with pain and pride.

THE MUSIC

Wendy Roby manages to capture the essence of Flats in one phrase, which i'll steal quote here, "look at the waveform on that!" Indeed. No peaks and troughs here, just an all-out 4minutes 5seconds of rage (unfortunately I can't show you this as it's not letting me embed at the moment!) Following two EP releases in 2010, Country (backed by Moonwalk) is the London band's third single and continues their punkish outlook. Actually, the word outlook suggests that their is a strategy or contrived side to their music. Music with this much rawness can only be the product of pure, unadulterated heart-to-fingers/throat playing. This band has a chip on their shoulders and they don't just want you to know about it, they want you to take that fucking chip, shove it down your throat (or in your ears) until you get the fucking message that they are really, REALLY pissed off about stuff.

Listen here

All the best to Dan and here's to their postponed tour going ahead in the near future.