Fluke
Puppy
One Little Indian
It was not too long ago that those famous Volkswagen Beetle commercials showered television screens pumping Fluke’s massive “Absurd,” a track from their 1997 Risotto album. The spinning Beetle was never quite the same. Now, Fluke makes a triumphant return to form with the release of their latest electro assault, Puppy. After engaging in extensive touring around the globe, the band returned to home to the UK and began working on new material. They gave audiences a taste of things to come by contributing the stunning track “Zion” to the Matrix Revolutions film. Puppy continues in this vein, pushing Fluke’s creative output to new heights. The album’s opener, “Snapshot,” is nothing short of explosive. An electronic rock anthem that sets the stage on fire. With little warning, the opening line, “little Suzie’s cruisin’ for some love and affection,” takes over and never lets go. I can’t seem to get enough of this moving gem. “My Spine” follows with a trance feel and the evocative vocals of Jon Fugler. Soon the track blends into the floor stomper “Another Kind of Blues,” showing off some ass kicking percussion. The keyboard work here is outstanding, as evidenced by the careful attention placed on every minute detail. As if the first three songs were not solid enough, “Hang Tough” kicks in with an infectious rhythm. I played this track during various train rides across Italy recently, and it proved to be the ideal touring companion.
A slower pace comes with “Switch/Twitch,” the album’s first single. Vibrant textures and attitude to spare on this one. About midway through the track, gears shift, giving rise to a steady dance groove that will keep club goers on their feet. “YYK” sneaks in like a quiet storm and morphs into a serious contender. Superb drum programming and synthesizer work are found here. This represents a giant leap in the band’s song writing forte.
A more hip hop feel is noticeable on “Expo,” a fully instrumental piece. Slick female vocal samples provide a nice touch alongside the space age production. “Electric Blue” continues on this path with soft spoken vocals. Dark corners of the mind are explored on “Baby Pain,” a mid-tempo work of art. Carefully placed female vocals at various points bring a delicate touch to this menacing wall of sound.
In a recent conversation with Jon Fugler, he revealed that Fluke is busy working on their next album. To date, the album is 50% complete with many of the songs showcasing the more aggressive feel as found on “Snapshot.” This sounds encouraging, being that is one of my favorites on Puppy. With this new release, Fluke proves that they are true masters of their craft and are on a course to dominate the genre.
One Little Indian: onelittleindian-us.com/
