Flyte brought their melancholic indie-folk textures and beautiful harmonies to The Caves in Edinburgh. The band are celebrating the release of their third and eponymous album, inspired by Will Taylor’s relationship with his partner. While 2021’s This Is Going To Hurt captured the bitterness of a long term relationship breaking down, Flyte explores love in all its early forms. It retains the confessional lyricism of its predecessor while being its tender antidote. The Caves – as Will noted during the set – is a fitting venue for exploring human vulnerabilities and faults via such introspective, gentle music.
Taylor and his long-term collaborator Nick Hill are the creative forces behind Flyte. They are joined on stage by M Field and Suren de Saram (of Bombay Bicycle Club) for live performances.
Flyte open with Speech Bubble from the new album, which even by Flyte’s standards is a gentle opening. An ode to new love, the theme of the album. Understanding and accepting our vulnerabilities and faults, and the ability to look beyond those characteristics of ourselves and being there for another. It’s a lovely start and it’s foreshadows the evening ahead.
Flyte’s genre of rainy day indie-folk music encourages stillness. The crowd are – for the most part – static, with the exception of some swaying and acts of endearment. They are fully respectful of the gentle ambience encapsulating the venue. Each song, each moment is fully absorbed. Nick and Will’s harmonies are remarkable and the magic they create is appreciated in silence until each song ends, as not to disturb their craft.
The cosy, intimate atmosphere created by the band invites you in. You feel as though you could be sat in your living room watching them and you are the only audience member. The ability to write and perform songs in a way that resonates with their audience is as impressive as their vocal performance. The songs reflect very human, very normal experiences and emotion that everyone can relate to.
As the gig progresses, we revisit tracks from earlier releases including Everyone’s A Winner and Mistress America from This Is Really Going to Hurt, as well as Cathy Come Home and Faithless from the debut album The Loved Ones. Mistress America has a distinct Simon and Garfunkel feel to the song and is one of few moments we see an increase in pace as the band immerse themselves in a bigger jam session. Cathy Come Home and Faithless meanwhile showcase the Beatles-inspired arrangements that feature in their first album.
Between tracks Will finds time to share some stories with the crowd. He shares the challenge of writing Chelsea Smiles. A song that has been on his fingertips for years. A melody sculpted and rearranged time and time again. The final version of the song is the result of splicing multiple versions of the same song together. Each version explored different themes from romance to football and football violence.
Even On Bad Days is a wonderful alternative wedding vow, and arguably the most popular song from the new album. It started as a poem and was crafted perfectly to a melody. The depth of the song is only heightened when finding out it was recorded in a single take for the album. Evidence of Flyte’s network of talented collaborators extends to poet laureate Simon Armitage who penned lyrics to Amy, and the talented Laura Marling who duets with Will on Tough Love. Laura isn’t available for this live show, but her stand-in is a fitting replacement.
Flyte finish the main body of their set with Faithless. The late 60’s sounding track starts with an enticing piano opening that transcends into a powerful body and outro, underpinned by cascading harmonies the Beach Boys would be proud of. It’s an opportunity for the band to flex just as much as the vocals.
For the encore, Flyte return to the stage and – very politely – request that the audience remain silent for this next song. A four-part acapella cover of Archie, Marry me by Alvvays is delivered with precision and composure as the crowd stand in awe. They close out their set with White Roses – a collaboration with The Staves. White Roses is everything to love about Flyte and the perfect tone to end the night.
Will and Nick are exceptional at their craft. They write emotive, personal songs and perform them with charm and delicacy. Their harmonies are breathtaking but what makes Flyte so authentic is the chemistry between Will and Nick as they perform. It feels confessional and intimate; like the two are connected. Perhaps they are the only two that truly understand each other.
Flyte pull from musical influences of the 60s and create something that feels nostalgic, fresh and authentic. The new album feels the most independently Flyte album to date, moving away from those influences. This was the perfect Sunday night gig to send you home content with your place in the world and appreciating those around you; with a warm hug from Flyte. Everything is going to be okay.