SINGLE REVIEW: In-Flight Movie - Passenger
In-Flight Movie's ‘Passenger’ emerges as a strikingly futuristic journey wrapped in a stylish cloak of nostalgia. The track effortlessly evokes the glitz and glamour of early-80s synth-pop, infused with the darker hues and atmospheric drama of classic post-punk. Simon Calver’s drums march with disciplined precision, setting a mechanical heartbeat beneath Pete Armstrong’s swirling, majestic synths, creating an enthralling sonic landscape that feels both comfortably familiar and entirely ahead of the curve.
The theatrical and passionate vocals from James Askwith add flamboyance and grandeur to the track, emphasising its cinematic scale. With dramatic flair, Askwith compares the tentative uncertainty of an early romance to the slow-motion unravelling of a car crash—a metaphor that perfectly captures the heady, unpredictable energy of new attraction. His voice lifts and soars, elegant and expressive, capturing an artistic intensity reminiscent of synth-pop’s pioneering era while still managing to sound distinctly fresh.
There’s a stylish grit woven through the melodies, preventing the music from ever feeling too polished or predictable. Guitars interject at just the right moments, providing bursts of rawness and punch against the lush backdrop of fluttering, futuristic synthesisers. These textured contrasts heighten the drama and emotional pull, turning ‘Passenger’ into something more layered and captivating than mere nostalgia.
This is music to get lost in—hedonistic, ambitious, and undeniably captivating. With ‘Passenger’, In-Flight Movie deliver a grand pop statement, effortlessly balancing glamour, theatricality, and grit in a way that feels truly timeless.
