Here’s something I never thought I would write: A Flock Of Seagulls has returned with a new album. Not only is it their first album since 1995, but it is the first collection to contain all four original members since 1984. To show you how long ago that was, I wasn’t even born when that last record came out! For this new project, they have teamed up with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra to deliver orchestral renderings of some of their biggest hits. In the shadow of Metallica, Kiss, and Scorpions, the Flock is trying something that many other bands have already done 15 years ago.
Opening track, the tried and true “I Ran,” has a very long instrumental buildup but unfortunately Mike Score’s vocals have withered from their heyday and now sound like a cover artist singing his own song. Guitarist Paul Reynolds still sounds great and the song manages to work because of his memorable lead. “Modern Love is Automatic,” a song I wasn’t very familiar with before this release, isn’t bad but it isn’t that memorable either.
The band’s other great hit, “Space Age Love Song,” still sounds lovely and the guitar work sounds impeccably pretty. The orchestra is a bit annoying and seems a tad unnecessary, but if this is what it took to get the original Flock back together, then so be it. “Wishing” sounds interesting but Score’s vocals just aren’t there anymore. Maybe too many years of playing mediocre clubs. Meanwhile, “Transfer Affection” isn’t a bad song, it just goes on a bit too long for its own good.
That’s ultimately the problem that keeps this from being a great record. Re-recordings are fine and good, but not every track needs an orchestral update. While the songs still sound fine, the orchestra is unnecessary and doesn’t work.
