Listen: Flights of Helios – “Factory” [Premiere]

Oxford stalwarts, Flights Of Helios, follow-up double A-side single “Star/Crows” with a scorching new track, “Factory”, a brilliant melange of catchy vocal lines and droning, grunge fuzz a la Fuck Buttons.

Produced by Richard Neuberg of cult rock band Viarosa, this second release – taken from the space-pop, shoe gaze quintet’s as yet untitled debut album – is a thing of beauty.

“Factory” opens with a series of reverb-drenched, upwards-escalating vocal arpeggios from frontman Chris Beard, sounding like a hybrid of early Nick Cave and Richard Hell’s (Television) messianic caterwaul. Exploding out of the spiritual void come James Maund’s infectious, indie guitar riffs and Phil Oakley’s classy yet bodacious bass-lines, swirling recklessly amidst a storm of psychotropic synth-work and driving back beat; finally collapsing into a haze of caustic howling and jarring feedback.

Flights of Helios play the Windmill, Brixton on 13 March.

Recorded and produced by Richard Neuberg at Strawhouse Studios, Oxfordshire. Mixed by Richard Neuberg and Flights of Helios. Mastered by Tim Turan. Lyrics inspired by the film Biutiful, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Artwork designed by Greg Orrom Swan.