Dreams feel like they could last forever. I’ve had full weeks exist in the period of only four hours of real time, and it’s all because the mind is a Mad Hatter. Whether it’s falling down to be jolted awake, feeling squeezed by girthy pythons, or being chased in a way that would make Michael Myers or Jason chuckle with glee, there’s rarely a wasted moment in dreams, even though keeping them with you feels like trying to trap sand in your hand. Nighttime Flyers exist in a sort of musical liminal space, echoing the feelings your mind can conjure up when it’s just you, a pillow, and your imagination (and buried trauma) bursting to the surface. The duo’s brand of instrumental post-rock is stirring, lively, and always haunting. This is the kind of EP that feels shorter and longer than its 14-minute runtime, due to so many fun ideas playing through and a genuinely evocative writing style. Vocal-less tunes are rarely so visually resplendent, and what better window into what works than “Monkey’s Dream,” with its post-punk bassline pairing up with a math-y noise rock riff that blurs into and out of the surreal. I can’t wait to hear what else these musical magicians cook up next.
“Instrumental music is more emotive to me than music with lyrics 75% of the time (non-scientific/don’t look it up),” bassist/guitarist/keyboardist Andrew Seward says. “Ever since I was a child I would listen to movie soundtracks. Last of the Mohicans, Chariots of Fire, Close Encounters, etc. In this record, I want you to get goosebumps, feel jolts of energy, and maybe sometimes go crazy. I’m always surprised with what Ryan comes up with, because it isn’t in my brain to come up with what he does. That’s why this all works in my opinion.”
“As much as I’m an album completist,” bassist/guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Mahon adds, “I still want each song to be its own individual journey or statement. Overall, it’s just this weird sound we’ve created for ourselves. I find myself rarely listening to much music with vocals these days, and I do find it more of a challenge, and more interesting, to take a listener somewhere or make them feel a certain vibe, solely based off the music.”
Running (Strange) is out now, and you can order it here. Follow Nighttime Flyers on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
Photo Credit: Craig Boliver
