YOUNG THEATRICAL DUO THE INCIDENT STUN WITH BREATHTAKING ORCHESTRAL SINGLE ‘RED FLAG RUBY’
SINGLE REVIEW | THE INCIDENT – RED FLAG RUBY By Michaela Roper
There’s an undeniable sense of musical maturity, lyrical talent and all-round charisma that flows through the veins of ‘Red Flag Ruby’, an incredible artistic project and the second single released by up-and-coming theatrical duo, The Incident. These two young rockers have since had their praises sung by the likes of Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, and rightly so, because ‘Red Flag Ruby’ has such a commanding presence, and truly showcases the pair’s outstanding aptitude.
The Incident was born out of newfound freedom, an escape from the clasps of the modern system, and a genuine passion for the highs and lows of well-crafted songwriting and exhilarating live performances. With Tom ‘Cab’ Davies and Emma ‘Eise’ Davies sharing the spotlight on stage, each crescendo, lyrical stint and piano rhythm effortlessly takes your breath away. The new track ‘Red Flag Ruby’ feels like a dramatic sonic flight through the stages of grief following the breakdown of a relationship; it’s grand, painfully raw, and powerfully haunting, like something out of the soundtrack to a psychological thriller flick.
Tom ‘Cab’ Davies offers a spellbinding, ruminative narrative over on piano, driven by the intense warmth of an analogue recording whilst remaining sharp on the edges, digging right into the darker shadows of your soul. The frontman himself proclaims the track pays homage to the ‘Hunky Dory’ sound of the early David Bowie tracks that shaped his childhood as a youthful pianist exploring his developing artistry.
Paired with soaring orchestral stints, glimmering efforts on the strings, and a gentle arrangement of cello and violins, ‘Red Flag Ruby’ becomes a grand artistic expression that gets the hairs on your arms standing up. At times, the duo’s playfulness seeps through, a pleasant reminder of the years of development that lay before them. The track builds to a glorious climax, a crescendo of dark colours and driving drum beats, that reveals a true vulnerability, and refreshing, honest attitude that could only be attributed to a songwriter of the young generation.
Emma ‘Eise’ Davies’ vocal work serves as an ethereal compliment to her theatrical counterpart. Her soft tones float amongst piano rhythms and electrifying guitar riffs with grace, reverberating with raw emotion. ‘Red Flag Ruby’ tumbles through a rich soundscape with ease. The track’s progression is unstoppably strong, but closes out on a dramatically histrionic beat that draws the lofty instrumentals to a beautiful end.
It’s safe to say The Incident have proved their worth with this sequel to first release, ‘All The Kiddies Doin Drugs’. The arrangement of the track brims with style and effervescence, and the duo’s musical trajectory looks nothing short of moving quickly upwards, right amongst the stars.
