Flower Coronet – Rare Circumstances

When you work as the editor for any indie entity, you come to realize very quickly that music does not always come in a simple package tied in a pretty little bow. The term “eclectic” becomes a mere understatement when you get submissions for inter-galactic space operas or EPs based on a Victorian murder-suicide ballad.  I am amazed that there is an audience for such things at times, but every single thing sent to us comes from a musician that has put their heart and soul into it and with at least a little fanfare.

Some of these submissions just sound like noise and others are just so out there, you can’t quite grasp what is going on and where you are supposed to be as the listener. When we received a request for Flower Coronet, my first thought was that it was one of the first kind. It was all over the place, with no glue to pull the threads together. Sometimes however, you need to dig a little deeper before you jump to conclusions.

The brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Andrew Grannis, Flower Coronet is “music made from the embodiment of the feeling of being at a joyous event while being uncomfortable in your seat.” He uses multiple arrangements, strange time sequences and mixtures of multiple instruments along with slightly off-key vocals to create this cacophony of noise. Underneath it all though, are glimpses of beauty. It is finding those moments, almost like searching for Waldo in those books, which make listening to Rare Circumstances worthwhile.

Whether it is the klezmer-like clarinet work in “Odd Images,” or the Thomas Dolby-esque synth work and vocals in “Cruelties of Man (Passages II),” there are moments of pure creativity that just come together. The L.A. native throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink it seems, in these six tracks. With some time to get accustomed, there is some comfort in that intentional discomfort that Grannis delivers. It’s like realizing you are now in on the inside joke.

Don’t let the backwoods fiddle picking and off-timed percussion confuse you in the opening track. As the title states, “Neglect, Disconnect, Reconnect” is exactly what happens to the listener as they fight their way through the first listen of Rare Circumstances. Those venturous souls will keep coming back for more, and as they do, they will catch on.

This album and artist is not for those music lovers who fill their iPods with the latest trendy tunes played on the radio. Grannis would probably prefer it that way. For the fan who can relish in those few seconds of pure harmony in the vocals and almost CSNY-esque guitar work in “Pull Back,” this will be an album that keeps on giving.
Album name: Rare Circumstances
Genre: Indie/Experimental
Release Date: October, 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Members: Andrew Grannis
Website: http://flowercoronet.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/flowercoronet

5 people are diggin’ this.

Unlike