South London boys Bastille are clearly going for a linear narrative with their promotional videos; “Flaws” sees front man Dan Smith rising from the dead on Coney Island beach following his mysterious drowning at the climax of the video for previous single “Bad Blood”.
Dan’s seemingly effortless vocal leaves the track feeling a little meandering at times; there are plenty of atmospheric lulls in the melody and we’re left on tenterhooks, waiting for Dan to come bursting back in with a powerful, reinvigorating key change. That’s not really his style though; he’s got fantastic control over those precocious pipes and there’s definitely a whiff of Orlando Weeks in those emotive enunciations. Drifting vocals aside, you can’t help but smile and bob away to the fat, vibrating bass drum kicks and looping keyboard riffs which wouldn’t feel out of place on an N64 game.
While the lyrical content will probably appeal to angst ridden teens a little more than your average Interpol fan, the chorus is undeniably ear-wormy. Trust us, after two or three listens you’ll be mumbling “you have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve” into your pillow for days. Musically it’s as lush as anythingPassion Pit have put out since “Sleepyhead” and although we’re left wanting a little more lyrically, it’s unlikely that will stop “Flaws” from appearing on sporting highlight reels and reality TV shows well into 2013.
Release: 22nd November 2012, Virgin Records
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=1E36WU9Wzf4
Written by Dan Carson
