IN-FLIGHT SAFETY
The Coast is Clear
Dead Daisy Records/ Outside
· For their second album, In-Flight Safety borrow gear from 54-40 and a producer from Matthew Good and release an album on Emm Gryner’s label. Don’t hold it against them.
Let’s get this out of the way right now – In-Flight Safety sound like Coldplay and that isn’t a bad thing. The Halifax band is making music that flies in the face of fuzzed-out indie rock that is synonymous with the region, which could explain why they had to cross the country to record the album in Vancouver. Instead of buzzing lo-fi guitars, you are treated to layers of echo on shimmering guitar leads, woeful mourning and a classic Brit pop sound filtered through four guys who probably listened to a lot of U2. The result isn’t original, but it is highly listenable.
Those who were drawn in by the surprising confidence of In-Flight Safety’s debut, Vacation Land, will be thrilled by The Coast is Clear. The songs are big without being bloated, emotional without being whiny and pretty without being saccharine. While John Mullane’s vocal similarity to Coldplay’s Chris Martin might hurt the band’s rep in indie circles, it bodes well for some commercial success. Here’s hoping they can find their own voice without ruining music that they are obviously so comfortable making.
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