Sunday 11th January 2015

Flying Kangaroo Alliance

Hypermonosonic Recording Studio

Nottingham

by Keith Jobey

On Sunday afternoon I had the privilege of attending a recording session at Hypermonosonic recording studio in Nottingham. I’d been asked along to take photographs in order to document a key event in the history of Leicester
band Flying Kangaroo Alliance. Having recently reached their 3rd anniversary they are at the studio to record what will hopefully become their second formal release, following on from the 7″ splattered vinyl Hit The Wall.
The two tracks to be recorded are Be Myself and Perfect Little Princess,both new songs recently introduced to their live set. Be Myself is to be recorded live in a single take while Perfect Little Princess is to be recorded by laying down the individual components.

Be Myself is a masterful track. A slow burning grungy tale of the struggle to decide if you should sacrifice a life in art for a conventional life. From it’s slow beginning, Keeley Knight’s bass and Styx’s drums gradually ramp up
the tempo, while Ali Findlay’s guitar dramatically switches between sounds, constantly stepping out of the shadows and confronting you face on. The pace and intensity build throughout before finally climaxing as if exhausted.

Perfect Little Princess is a dark tale of an abusive relationship, Meri Everitt never one to shy away from approaching subjects that aren’t your standard pop song fodder. Set to a distinctly poppy tune and at a speed she hopes will get people dancing, it overflows with those catchy melodies that Meri is so capable of writing and planting in your head straight away.

Once everyone gets their sound and levels how they want it can hear enough of each other to keep the songs on track, it’s down to business. They do a handful of takes of Be Myself and that’s that one done. Time to start Perfect
Little Princess. I leave them to it at that point, the atmosphere in the studio is relaxed, with plenty of smiles and laughs. It’s been a good day at the office.

Pop, rock, grunge, fun and dark tales… that’s Flying Kangaroo Alliance for you. And now we have a great new record to look forward to from them.

See also:

FKA at the 2014 Oxjam Festival.

FKA at the 2014 Western Park Festival.

FKA at The Shed in March.