“Every day I wake, wait for the tragedy
Imbalanced humanity.
Should anything be pleasure when suffering is everywhere?”
These are the opening lines of ‘Levitate,’ the first song on Florist’s latest album, Jellywish. At a moment in time when their country’s commander-in-chief has his finger on the trigger to potentially escalate but one of the conflicts in the Middle East, it does seem particularly apt that the four-piece band from Brooklyn should also choose to start this show with ‘Levitate.’
There is undoubtedly a clear emotional disconnect between being present on such occasions whilst the world in general goes to hell in a handcart. Still, amidst this darkness there does lie hope and this music offers us moments of pleasure that we should cherish.
This concert had originally been planned for the 100-capacity Fulford Arms on the other side of town, but such was the demand it was moved to the larger Crescent. Emily Sprague, vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist with Florist is clearly enamoured with the venue and the man who has put on the show. “Everyone needs a Joe,” she says, referring to Mr. Joe Coates, local live music promoter and the man behind Please Please You.
And like most all the shows that are brought to us by Please Please You, this one is an absolute delight. ‘Levitate’ is the platform from which Florist take off. Their music, a form of transcendental, almost hallucinogenic indie-folk, positively glides, removing the listener, at least temporarily, from all the madness and mayhem that surrounds them in the world outside.
By the time that they reach ‘Glowing Brightly’ – from their third album, 2017’s If Blue Could Be Happiness, and a song being given a rare public outing here – Sprague requests that the Crescent’s glitter ball be switched on and whilst what follows may not be likened to the sound of The Trammps performing ‘Disco Inferno’, the momentum does shift and the groove gathers pace, albeit incrementally. It is a beautiful shift of gear.
‘Jellyfish’ from the new album embraces that record’s concept of everything must change whilst the following song, ‘Our Hearts in a Room’ – also taken from Jellywish – asks the question of yourself if you are happy. For all the existentialism present in these songs, they are carried aloft on a wave of melodic joy.
The penultimate song of the night, ‘Vacation’ is one of Florist’s earlier tunes – first appearing on their Holdly EP from ten years ago – and reflects the beauty of continuation, not just with the band but also in life itself.
They end with ‘Gloom Designs’ where Emily Sprague wonders aloud as to how we – humanity – have come to this but invests her answer with some hope for the future, something that nights like these undoubtedly embrace.
Photos: Simon Godley
More photos of Florist at The Crescent in York
