1986. New York City. Trash cans ablaze in vacant lots. Wheels stolen, cars on blocks. A new noise was rising amid the rubble of abandoned buildings; this was the beginning, and Flower would take root and thrive here. Over their three years of initial outburst, Flower recorded two albums; the first, Concrete, dark and raging, pounding and brutal. The following year brought Hologram Sky; a glimpse of redemption, the promise of Spring on a bitter March wind, melodic and noisy, precise and chaotic, icy and warm. Their live shows walked the third rail, one step from catastrophe, one step from Valhalla, pushing density, rhapsody and bombast to their limits. Flower were young and foolish, naively insightful and blissfully ignorant, unaware of the power with which they toyed.

Naturally, they self-destructed.

The survivors, most notably Ed and Richard Baluyut, went on to form the indie icons Versus. Ian James managed to crawl away unscathed, only to end up in Geffen flame-out Cell, but later would reunite with drummer Andrew Bordwin to form French. This was to be the lay of the land for the next three decades until…

Flower returned.

Having always remained close, while Ian was recording the most recent Versus releases, discussion turned to seeing what would happen if all four original Flower members locked themselves in the studio until an album had been written. So it was agreed, and so it was done. None knew what to expect – Would they kill each other? Worse, would the music be lame? The road took many detours, but the goal was finally realized: the first Flower album in 30 years.

Here it comes…

The Big Takeover is excited to announce the release of this album. Titled None Is (But Once Was), the LP will arrive on May 15th via Ernest Jenning Record Co..

Ahead of its arrival, Flower will be going on a run of shows that includes SXSW dates. Check out the listing below for details.

The Big Takeover is also stoked to be hosting the premiere of the copacetic, yet vivid “Glass Brick Window,” the lead single from the upcoming album.

It’s a sweeping track that reverberates with contrasting coolly crunching and wavering, warm guitar lines, a deeply supple bass line, and steadily pumping drum beats. Poetic lyrics are exclaimed with a rueful passion, and the vocals are touched with a psychedelic watery swirl ‘n’ echo effect.

Preorder the album at Flower’s Bandcamp and Earnest Jenning Record Co.

Tracklisting:

1 Lost Horizon
2 Nonetheless
3 Glass Brick Window
4 In Between
5 Annihilation Time
6 Consent
7 Wayward
8 Blood
9 Totality
10 The Dregs of Privilege

Upcoming Shows:

SXSW:
3/18/20 12:45pm Hole In The Wall – Back Stage (Chicken Ranch Party) w/ +/- {Plus/Minus}, more
3/18/20 4:00pm Knomad Bar (Whoopsy Party) w/ +/- {Plus/Minus}, more
3/18/20 8:00pm Elysium w/ Otoboke Beaver, more
3/19/20 1:55pm Side Bar (Inside) – Hipster Robots Suck w/ +/- {Plus/Minus}, Beach Slang, Cable Ties, Control Top and more

5/3/20 The 27 Club Ottawa, Canada w/ Sebadoh
5/4/20 The Haunt Ithaca, NY w/ Sebadoh
5/5/20 Higher Ground South Burlington, VT w/ Sebadoh
5/6/20 The Hollow Bar + Kitchen Albany, NY w/ Sebadoh
5/7/20 Chameleon Club Lancaster, PAw/ Sebadoh

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