Catching Flies, real name George King, has developed his most emotive and unified effort yet, working closely with string arranger Thomas Lea (Adele/Bonobo/Rhye). A lovely, poignant record with obviously heartfelt sounds, it’s all tied together by a distinct sense of purpose. On the one hand, ‘Tides‘ features tracks that are constantly changing, moods that shift and sway like waves, and on the other, there’s a gentle consistency to the to-and-fro that paints a serene landscape and points to an altogether more mature artist, assured by his own creative process and distinct sound.
This album is all about ebbs and flows. It’s been a very interesting few years, to say the least, both personally and in terms of the world. I always kept coming back to the concept of tides, the cyclical nature of everything, and the way sadness gives way to happiness… and vice versa. It all works out in the end, though, and regardless of what’s happening, the sea is still there, a constant in the madness. – Catching Flies
The unique precision that Catching Flies brings to his productions is maybe the most distinguishing feature of his approach. The artist creates music by slicing and pasting tiny fragments of sound in a careful collage technique. He is an ardent collector who has amassed a massive library of samples and field recordings over the years.
Sometimes I’ll just sample one note from a song I liked, and then I’ll manipulate it until it feels far removed from the original song, but I know that one note has a history and story that is far greater than myself
The album’s title track, ‘Tides,’ settles on a tranquil acceptance of life’s cyclical cycles. It deftly blends live instrumentation with warm electronic sounds in a highly beautiful and hopeful conclusion to a swaying and thrilling journey.
In the last few years, I’ve observed this oscillation between things being happy and sad in my own life. I always knew the album would end on ‘Tides’ – it leaves it in a more hopeful place. Nothing’s ever permanent – Catching Flies
