Alive In The Resplendent Flames: A Brief Review Of The New Album From One True Pairing (Ex-Wild Beasts)

Tom Fleming, formerly of Wild Beasts, has a distinctive voice. And it's one which seems well-suited to the sort of malleable synth-pop that band produced for years. Now, Fleming has his own project, One True Pairing, and the band's debut album, One True Pairing is out on Friday via Domino. It's the sort of record that expands what was possible with Wild Beasts by keeping things simple and basic.

Somehow, by simplifying things a bit, Fleming has veered away from art rock and created something a good deal less ornate than what he previously did. "Zero Summer" and the title cut here sound a bit like those numbers of Wild Beasts, but things are not quite as beautiful anymore. Tom Fleming is more interested in making something stark and pointed these days, with numbers like "Factory" offering up lyrics that are rooted in the real world. Still, for the grit here on One True Pairing, "Alive in the Resplendent Flames" is lush and lovely, while "Elite Companion" is as stripped down and severely simple as those early recordings from Frank Tovey and Fad Gadget. Fleming's voice is the star here, and for whatever points he's making with his lyrics, his vocals are what carry all of this into the stratosphere.

One True Pairing is out on Friday via Domino.

More details on One True Pairing via the band's official Facebook page, or the official website

[Photo: Jenna Foxton]