Public Service Broadcasting – The Last Flight (2024)

I've seen PSB a couple of times, and enjoyed both. I've enjoyed previous albums, although I'm beginning to think that the music feels far better if the concept of the album is something you have an interest in. My introduction was the Race For Space album and I followed that up with Every Valley, based on coal mining in South Wales.

I found Bright Magic less compelling, and I have to admit, that the subject matter of this album, the round world flight of Amelia Earhart, isn't particularly an interest of mine, but it did prompt me to investigate the story.

But back to the music. As feels almost trademark for PSB, we start off with the scene setting ambience, here in I Was Always Dreaming, followed by the upbeat Towards The Dawn, interspersed with news clips on Earhart's first unsuccessful attempt at a round-the-world flight. The Fun Of It is a breezy song (sung by Andreya Casablanca of German duo Gurr), recounting Earhart's motivation, followed by the more ethereal The South Atlantic (sung by Kate Stables aka This Is The Kit), as we continue with the second attempt at circumnavigation. Electra is about her plane, restored after the first attempt, an upbeat, optimistic number (Willgoose seems in awe of technology) sung by Hannah Peel.

However, the mood changes as the inevitable approaches. Arabian Flight has a mysterious sound, dealing with the flight over (actually around, over sea) the Arabian desert, while Monsoon is darker still, reflecting her battles with the south-east Asian weather. The penultimate track, breaks with the narrative, to reflect on the love between Amelia Earhart and her husband, George Putnam - I don't find this compelling, rather an intrusion into the narrative, which concludes with Howland, a quiet, mournful piece overlaying newsreel footage of Earhart's disappearance en route to Howland Island in the mid Pacific.

It's tempting to conclude this isn't as good as previous works, although the novelty of music and audio footage from earlier pieces is no longer there. There's nothing wrong, and it's a decent listen, but perhaps the 'wow' factor isn't here for me.

Link to album tracks

3* - an interesting listen, that never quite reaches the excitement of previous albums