The Gresham Flyers

I'd not seen the Flyers for AGES and was EAGER to see them NOW. I stood with Mr C Gilmour and MARVELLED at quite HOW very EXCELLENT they are now - last time I saw them there was a LOT of changing round of instruments, which I personally find All Well And Good In The Practice Room, but REALLY distracting in The Live Arena, which has now calmed down A LOT. In my opinion they could just stop it all together - Thom and New Drummer Guy are such an OBVIOUS and GRATE rhythm section together it feels WRONG to see them parted.

Also in the time since I last saw them there seems to have been a Great Relaxing amongst them, as suddenly it all looked like LOTS of FUN - I always think the KEY to a good band is when the band members A) look at each other GRINNING throughout and B) sing along when they don't have. Everyone was dancing, everyone was happy, and it brought the TUNES rollicking out to the front. It was EXCELLENT, and the fact that Waz was sporting a Back To The Future-ESQUE DOUBLE TIES was pretty much the icing on the cake.
- MJ Hibbett

I'd not seen the Flyers for AGES and was EAGER to see them NOW. I stood with Mr C Gilmour and MARVELLED at quite HOW very EXCELLENT they are now - last time I saw them there was a LOT of changing round of instruments, which I personally find All Well And Good In The Practice Room, but REALLY distracting in The Live Arena, which has now calmed down A LOT. In my opinion they could just stop it all together - Thom and New Drummer Guy are such an OBVIOUS and GRATE rhythm section together it feels WRONG to see them parted.

Also in the time since I last saw them there seems to have been a Great Relaxing amongst them, as suddenly it all looked like LOTS of FUN - I always think the KEY to a good band is when the band members A) look at each other GRINNING throughout and B) sing along when they don't have. Everyone was dancing, everyone was happy, and it brought the TUNES rollicking out to the front. It was EXCELLENT, and the fact that Waz was sporting a Back To The Future-ESQUE DOUBLE TIES was pretty much the icing on the cake.
- MJ Hibbett

The only member of the Gresham Flyers that I could identify with any confidence is Sharon Leach as she sticks to keyboards and vocals consistently. The other five names could almost be attached to anyone: is it Thom Allott who almost does a circuit of the stage, starting on the far left on guitar and playing at various times bass, synth and drums? They’re fairly twee C86 powerpop, owing quite a bit to bands like the Wedding Present, early James and Pulp, and full of whimsical songs like ‘Cat Hits Car’ and the whizzbang ‘Factory Records Museum’ in which Jon Waring dreams of a lottery funded museum where “we’d spend bank holidays visiting the shrine to Ian Curtis and reading up on Section 25”. Great, sugary pop fun. - SoundsXP

The only member of the Gresham Flyers that I could identify with any confidence is Sharon Leach as she sticks to keyboards and vocals consistently. The other five names could almost be attached to anyone: is it Thom Allott who almost does a circuit of the stage, starting on the far left on guitar and playing at various times bass, synth and drums? They’re fairly twee C86 powerpop, owing quite a bit to bands like the Wedding Present, early James and Pulp, and full of whimsical songs like ‘Cat Hits Car’ and the whizzbang ‘Factory Records Museum’ in which Jon Waring dreams of a lottery funded museum where “we’d spend bank holidays visiting the shrine to Ian Curtis and reading up on Section 25”. Great, sugary pop fun. - SoundsXP

Sex With Strangers is the debut album from London based band The Gresham Flyers and it’s quite impressive for their first shot. This collection of dance-rock anthems hints at a musical maturity far beyond the usual debut album, especially when one considers that they produced the album themselves too.

On the whole the lyrics don’t break any new ground –in fact it feels like one long narrative chronicling the London club scene. And the band sounds very much like Stars – lead singer Johnny Warning sounds strikingly like Stars front man Torquil Campbell. But their ear layered compositions and fresh arrangements prove that The Gresham Flyers are far more advanced than most of their fledgling peers.

“Student Nurse” carries with it a vague influence of early Primal Scream records; while the song itself begs for a club remix. And on “Foolscap” the second, female lead singer Sharon Leach’s voice rises like a tortured angel from a haze of synthesizers into thumping anthem for jilted lovers. And every now and then the melodies and interplay between Warning and Leach’s voices unite and do something amazing and intangible. Unfortunately though, the band doesn’t utilize that vocal chemistry as much as I would like.

This is a debut album that could put a band on the map if they can slide it into the right hands and onto the right dance floors. - God Is In The TV Fanzine

Sex With Strangers is the debut album from London based band The Gresham Flyers and it’s quite impressive for their first shot. This collection of dance-rock anthems hints at a musical maturity far beyond the usual debut album, especially when one considers that they produced the album themselves too.

On the whole the lyrics don’t break any new ground –in fact it feels like one long narrative chronicling the London club scene. And the band sounds very much like Stars – lead singer Johnny Warning sounds strikingly like Stars front man Torquil Campbell. But their ear layered compositions and fresh arrangements prove that The Gresham Flyers are far more advanced than most of their fledgling peers.

“Student Nurse” carries with it a vague influence of early Primal Scream records; while the song itself begs for a club remix. And on “Foolscap” the second, female lead singer Sharon Leach’s voice rises like a tortured angel from a haze of synthesizers into thumping anthem for jilted lovers. And every now and then the melodies and interplay between Warning and Leach’s voices unite and do something amazing and intangible. Unfortunately though, the band doesn’t utilize that vocal chemistry as much as I would like.

This is a debut album that could put a band on the map if they can slide it into the right hands and onto the right dance floors. - God Is In The TV Fanzine

Gresham Flyers soon assault in the shed like gods of noise. The Flyers are one of the Indietracks bands I hadn’t come across before, at their frenzied best suggesting Dexys played in the crazy cartoon tempos of Fraggle Rock. It’s off-kilter Pop in its most thrilling incarnation, bouncing off walls and bubbling underneath the ground before hiding for a while in a more serene sound that doesn’t quite fit so well. The Flyers are best when the music compliments their attention-magnet keyboardist "Sister" Sharon Leach, who bounces ebulliently through fast and slow numbers alike in her kaleidoscope dress until, completely played out, she fades into the ether.
- Pop Miwsig

Gresham Flyers soon assault in the shed like gods of noise. The Flyers are one of the Indietracks bands I hadn’t come across before, at their frenzied best suggesting Dexys played in the crazy cartoon tempos of Fraggle Rock. It’s off-kilter Pop in its most thrilling incarnation, bouncing off walls and bubbling underneath the ground before hiding for a while in a more serene sound that doesn’t quite fit so well. The Flyers are best when the music compliments their attention-magnet keyboardist "Sister" Sharon Leach, who bounces ebulliently through fast and slow numbers alike in her kaleidoscope dress until, completely played out, she fades into the ether.
- Pop Miwsig

London quintet the Gresham Flyers’ debut album, Sex with Strangers, isn’t as sleazy or titillating as the title may suggest, however it is unashamedly quaint, quirky and delivers moments of fantastic synth pop.

Album opener ‘Everyone Has to Meet Somewhere’ sounds like a cross between a chirpier Buzzcocks (guitarist/vocalist John Waring straying close to Pete Shelly territory) and the Super Furry Animals. Whereas on ‘Student Nurse’, John seems to do his best Jarvis Cocker impression but with lines like “I wasn’t looking for a mindless conquest despite the fact that I’m in love with your chest ohh.” and some other hastily forced rhymes, it fails to hit they mark. Forgiving the minor lyrical indiscretions and nods to their idols the albums shining light is Sharon Leach(Vocals/keyboard) operating the wonderful analogue synth which holds everything together giving the album both it’s quintessential quirky feel, adding swirling soundscape and atmosphere while boosting some of its weaker points. Although their vocal interaction and chemistry can be a bit hit and miss at times, songs like ‘Foolscape’ which Sharon takes the main vocals to good effect backed wonderfully if understatedly by John, is a great example of the great retro synth pop (very much in the vein of OMD ) that they are capable of. The dynamic and lively ‘Cricket Bat’ brings to mind mid 90’s Indie Pop of the likes of the Bluetones or the Supernaturals. ‘Higher Education’ is where John and Sharon’s chemistry and vocal interplay works perfectly, relating a charming tale of summer love, they just about pull of soppy romantic lines such as “We’ll lie down together, the world population has shrunk down to just me and you…middle of nowhere, the moon reflects off of the sea and your delicate skin” breaking out a cheesy guitar solo (with tongue stuck firmly in cheek). The upbeat ‘Shift Work’ has some nice wispy guitar work, while John laments time wasted working which could have been better spent with a number of females that appear to have slipped through the net. Tracks such as ‘Red Nose Day’ with its spoken word interject from Sharon, glistening synth and beautiful harmonies certainly recall Saint Etienne in their heyday. Final track ‘Pretty But Not beautiful’ starts of with a military sounding drum shuffle with sparkly sounding keyboard gradually descending into what sounds suspicious like Talking Heads, Road to Nowhere, with U2’s Edge taking the lead guitar duties near the end, I can only assume they were aiming for an anthemic finale.

A whimsical debut album from a band that seems to wear their idols on their sleeve but still feel comfortable in their own skin, they may lack some of the wit, charm and edginess of their heroes but they are capable of good story telling and instances of genuine pop bliss whilst melding some of the finest indie pop of the last 20 years into their own form.
- Is This Music?

London quintet the Gresham Flyers’ debut album, Sex with Strangers, isn’t as sleazy or titillating as the title may suggest, however it is unashamedly quaint, quirky and delivers moments of fantastic synth pop.

Album opener ‘Everyone Has to Meet Somewhere’ sounds like a cross between a chirpier Buzzcocks (guitarist/vocalist John Waring straying close to Pete Shelly territory) and the Super Furry Animals. Whereas on ‘Student Nurse’, John seems to do his best Jarvis Cocker impression but with lines like “I wasn’t looking for a mindless conquest despite the fact that I’m in love with your chest ohh.” and some other hastily forced rhymes, it fails to hit they mark. Forgiving the minor lyrical indiscretions and nods to their idols the albums shining light is Sharon Leach(Vocals/keyboard) operating the wonderful analogue synth which holds everything together giving the album both it’s quintessential quirky feel, adding swirling soundscape and atmosphere while boosting some of its weaker points. Although their vocal interaction and chemistry can be a bit hit and miss at times, songs like ‘Foolscape’ which Sharon takes the main vocals to good effect backed wonderfully if understatedly by John, is a great example of the great retro synth pop (very much in the vein of OMD ) that they are capable of. The dynamic and lively ‘Cricket Bat’ brings to mind mid 90’s Indie Pop of the likes of the Bluetones or the Supernaturals. ‘Higher Education’ is where John and Sharon’s chemistry and vocal interplay works perfectly, relating a charming tale of summer love, they just about pull of soppy romantic lines such as “We’ll lie down together, the world population has shrunk down to just me and you…middle of nowhere, the moon reflects off of the sea and your delicate skin” breaking out a cheesy guitar solo (with tongue stuck firmly in cheek). The upbeat ‘Shift Work’ has some nice wispy guitar work, while John laments time wasted working which could have been better spent with a number of females that appear to have slipped through the net. Tracks such as ‘Red Nose Day’ with its spoken word interject from Sharon, glistening synth and beautiful harmonies certainly recall Saint Etienne in their heyday. Final track ‘Pretty But Not beautiful’ starts of with a military sounding drum shuffle with sparkly sounding keyboard gradually descending into what sounds suspicious like Talking Heads, Road to Nowhere, with U2’s Edge taking the lead guitar duties near the end, I can only assume they were aiming for an anthemic finale.

A whimsical debut album from a band that seems to wear their idols on their sleeve but still feel comfortable in their own skin, they may lack some of the wit, charm and edginess of their heroes but they are capable of good story telling and instances of genuine pop bliss whilst melding some of the finest indie pop of the last 20 years into their own form.
- Is This Music?

This may not be the biggest selling album of all time, but I'd certainly suggest that this is a very strong contender for album of the year for indie fans. Cherryade Records were previously famed for their twee, lo-fi output, but with The Gresham Flyers they've picked up a powerpop outfit with big hooks, choruses and the odd ridiculous guitar solo. With two very Northern-sounding singers, and lyrics that explore the minute details of failed relationships, dead-end jobs and drunken trysts, there's a danger that the band would be accused of ripping off The Wedding Present or Pulp, but the quality of material allows the band to sidestep these pitfalls and become their own band.

There's plenty to get excited about - opener Everyone Has To Meet somewhere comes on like a cross between early Super Furry Animals and The Cars, Foolscap (fronted by keyboard player Sharon Leach) is eerie 80s synths, while Higher Education is a yearning lament for impossible summer holiday romances, with beautiful vocals and an oddly-fitting epic guitar solo. Best of all are the disco duet Student Nurse, and the epic closer Pretty But Not Beautiful. As with most of the songs, the theme of these is the lost chances with the opposite sex, which would seem bitter or dull in the hands of a lesser singer than main vocalist/songwriter John Waring.

Despite the writing being split between three of the seven band members (one member being listed despite apparently not appearing on the album and two having since left the band!), there's a definite unity in the sound and songwriting; the minuscule details of everyday life and past loves are held up to the light and examined, but in a way that will make you sing along, dance and put a smile on your face.

Pick this up, and you'll not regret it. - Amazon

This may not be the biggest selling album of all time, but I'd certainly suggest that this is a very strong contender for album of the year for indie fans. Cherryade Records were previously famed for their twee, lo-fi output, but with The Gresham Flyers they've picked up a powerpop outfit with big hooks, choruses and the odd ridiculous guitar solo. With two very Northern-sounding singers, and lyrics that explore the minute details of failed relationships, dead-end jobs and drunken trysts, there's a danger that the band would be accused of ripping off The Wedding Present or Pulp, but the quality of material allows the band to sidestep these pitfalls and become their own band.

There's plenty to get excited about - opener Everyone Has To Meet somewhere comes on like a cross between early Super Furry Animals and The Cars, Foolscap (fronted by keyboard player Sharon Leach) is eerie 80s synths, while Higher Education is a yearning lament for impossible summer holiday romances, with beautiful vocals and an oddly-fitting epic guitar solo. Best of all are the disco duet Student Nurse, and the epic closer Pretty But Not Beautiful. As with most of the songs, the theme of these is the lost chances with the opposite sex, which would seem bitter or dull in the hands of a lesser singer than main vocalist/songwriter John Waring.

Despite the writing being split between three of the seven band members (one member being listed despite apparently not appearing on the album and two having since left the band!), there's a definite unity in the sound and songwriting; the minuscule details of everyday life and past loves are held up to the light and examined, but in a way that will make you sing along, dance and put a smile on your face.

Pick this up, and you'll not regret it. - Amazon