The Flying Buttresses

The story of The Flying Buttresses began in a smaller project known as Jillian and the Whole World (2010), where Jillian Gomez would pound relentlessly on her piano and sing dark monologues of lost love and frustration. Jillian then pursued a full band, but after some deliberation, realized that drums and keyboard would suffice as a unique duo. Jillian Gomez and Andrew Cobb explore the paranormal, use uncanny lyrics, and resonate a haunting sound in their debut album, We Are Strange (2014). “Programmed to Love” and title track, “We Are Strange” carry over from Jillian’s solo act, but as a listener from that time, I can hear how these songs have developed in their character. The former is robotic, although swinging in rhythm and indulging in colorful 7th chords,and the latter is a delightful contrast between acceptance of the abnormal and uncertainty of self. As devoted fans of science fiction, the duo naturally describes the mystery of alien life, but on “Alien,” that alludes to human beings as well and the struggle with social conformity. Indeed, in this song, Jillian shows that aggression in her vocals and also in her lengthy synthesizer solos. “White Light” directly addresses the bewilderment of alien abductions, recalling the pilot episode of The X-Files, where “Spooky” Mulder and Scully experience a loss of nine minutes when a white light strikes them in the car. The album closes with “Soul,” a simple duet of vocals and drums, where the melody soars in major and minor keys; a graceful conclusion to an album of stormy tracks. I believe The Flying Buttresses have fresh ideas, as We Are Strange has its own tale, sound, and style. NO FCC - Lauren Lyman

"Inspired by the astral elements of David Bowie and Devo, Andrew Cobb and Jillian Gomez, two students at Texas State University, combine keyboards and synthesizers, crash cymbals and drums and a little bit of crazy cat fever to bend the boundaries of Texas music." - Melissa Crowe, Victoria Advocate - Melissa Crowe: Victoria Advocate