Mystery Jets: “Flakes”
Their self-proclaimed “sketchy attempt at Christmas number one”, “Flakes” would never be able to reach that mark for obvious reasons, not the least of which being that you can’t purchase the single even if you wanted to (they’re giving it away for free download starting Wednesday). That’s not to say, however, that it doesn’t embody all the essential qualities of your classic Christmas number one, before the honor came to be routinely claimed by conveniently-timed debuts from your X Factor winners and larger than life pop stars dropping novelty one-off Christmas singles. Like “Mad World” in 2003, it’s everything Christmas number one should be - epic, powerful, timeless - but unlike Gary Jules surprise megahit, “Flakes” would hardly make a dent in the charts even if it were to see a formal release in the next month. That’s just the way it goes though, and it doesn’t mean “Flakes” isn’t one of the best songs you’ll hear all year.
Most of all, it reminds you what a weak year its been for quintessentially Britpop singles; it’s more affecting than anything since Guillemots bestowed the retro-pop masterpieces of Through The Windowpane unto the world in the spring of 2006. It’s slow to reveal itself, it’s brilliance shrouded in a delicate vulnerability (Stereogum cites the song’s “Buckley-ish vocals”) that gradually builds to an epic swell of “oh-oh-oh’s” that recalls the mood of Grizzly Bear’s Yellow House (could this be their “Knife”?) more than anything on the Jets’ 2005 debut. It announced itself to me as something Definitely Special from the start, but it wasn’t until last night during an errant venture through the Financial District that everything clicked. “Flakes” was playing as I crossed a rainy street near the seaport and rounded a corner directly into the shadow of 30-foot Christmas tree, and it suddenly become apparent that yes, in some utopian parallel universe, this really is Christmas number one.
MP3: “Flakes” - Mystery Jets ((highly recommended)) [Alternate Link]
And all that without a single mention of Erol Alkan’s production work on the track. I know, right? That’s mainly because regardless of production, “Flakes” would likely be able to stand alone as one of the year’s triumphant tracks even in its rawest form, but the cavernous mix of the vocals is a subtle touch that makes it just that much better. Mystery Jets upcoming second album will be Erol’s first full album production credit, and while he’s not terribly ostentatious on “Flakes”, it’s not the kind of track that needs a producer to make their presence known; subtlety is the name of the game here. That said, his nigh-on impeccable pedigree as a producer - both as a remixer and in rock music (”Fulwood Babylon”, anyone?) - suggests we have a lot to look forward to on the band’s upcoming LP. Between “Flakes” and last winter’s first taste of “Umbrellahead” and the “Elizabeth” demo, Mystery Jets’ as-yet-untitled sophomore effort is shaping up to be a potential classic in waiting.
MP3: “Half In Love With Elizabeth” (Electric Demo) - Mystery Jets [Alt. Link]
On a completely serious note, may Sean Taylor be in our thoughts tonight. ST21