Flare: Vinyl LP

Pre-Order Item. Release Date Subject to Change.
Label: Bella Union
Release Date: 30th January 2026

Don't fear the prog, you like those complex jams don't you, you're digging those theatrics, you're delighted they're shredding for days and you're enjoying losing yourself in cosmic synths. Don't let this wonderful genre be the reserve of the card carrying CAMRA crew, you too can enjoy this world of mindwarping and theatrical rock without having to rebadge it as 'post rock', 'math rock', 'psych rock' or 'experimental rock'. It's fine, you're safe here.

After the success of their debut album Terrapath, which cemented their
status as the stewards of the UK's prog-rock scene, Plantoid have returned
with their sophomore release: the enigmatic, arresting, and at times
downright catchy Flare
Staying true to the band's math-rock roots, the album is awash in heavy, reverberated
guitar licks, tempo changes, and mind- altering chord progressions-- all while
expanding Plantoid's signature sound towards new horizons, like wall- of- sound
shoegaze and vocal-forward rock-pop. It does what all second albums do best; retain
the core DNA that set its predecessor apart from the fray, yet evolve enough to excite
old fans and new listeners alike.
"While making Flare , we did knowingly acknowledge that our sound had been very
erratic," explains drummer Louis Bradshaw, who along with vocalist/ guitarist Chloe
Spence and lead guitarist Tom Coyne, make up the nucleus of Plantoid. "We never
stayed on anything for too long. Before going into writing this album we wanted to
slightly redefine what we were doing--it's less directly proggy. It strays from that sound
a bit, while retaining that character."
If you're here for the time changes, long track durations, and jazzy mid-song freakouts,
don't you worry, you'll still find plenty across the album's nine sprawling tracks. It's just
that Plantoid have been able to tap into something deeper, more lived-in. With the help
of producer/ sometimes live member Nathan Ridley, who has helped the band craft
their sonic identity since Terrapath, they've sought to indulge their groovier side,
dissecting their songs further and letting their ingredients properly ferment into
something new. "We wanted to sit in the music for a while, make a mood out of it
rather than like changing it up so quickly," says Chloe. "We wanted to see ideas to their
fullest extent."
It's this dedication to the expansion of their craft that makes them both endlessly
fascinating, and one of those most intensely imaginative rock bands in the UK today