Flying Microtonal Banana

Flying Microtonal Banana
Studio album by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Released February 24, 2017 (2017-02-24)
Recorded April - September 2016
Studio Flightless HQ
Genre
Length 41:53
Label
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard chronology
Nonagon Infinity
(2016)		 Flying Microtonal Banana
(2017)		 Murder of the Universe
(2017)
Singles from Flying Microtonal Banana
  1. "Rattlesnake"
    Released: 10 November 2016
  2. "Nuclear Fusion"
    Released: 21 December 2016
  3. "Sleep Drifter"
    Released: 17 January 2017

Flying Microtonal Banana is the ninth studio album by Australian psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. It was released on 24 February 2017 on Flightless Records in Australia,[1] ATO Records in the United States,[2] and Heavenly Recordings in the United Kingdom.[3] It is the first of five albums released in 2017, and subtitled "Explorations into Microtonal Tuning, Volume 1".[4] The album is recorded in quarter tone tuning, where an octave is divided into 24 (logarithmically) equal-distanced quarter tones.

The album earned the band a nomination for Best Group at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Pitchfork7.4/10[6]

Upon its release, Flying Microtonal Banana received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, the album holds an average critic score of 72/100, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[7]

AllMusic's Tim Sendra wrote, "it's clear that the experiment was a success and that the microtuned instruments fit in perfectly with their oddball aesthetic" describing the melodies as "more exotic (to ears attuned to Western music anyway) and complex" compared to previous albums.[5] While comparing it unfavourably to its predecessor, Pitchfork contributor Stuart Bremen still commended the album, writing "if Flying Microtonal Banana’s randomized approach is ultimately less transfixing than Nonagon Infinity’s maniacal focus, it nonetheless shows that, after eight previous albums, this band’s creativity and curiosity knows no bounds, and their singular balance of anarchy and accessibility is still in check. So even if you don’t understand the first thing about microtonality, there’s still plenty of flying banana here to keep you amused."[6]

Accolades

Publication Accolade Year Rank Ref.
Uncut Albums of the Year 2017
35

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rattlesnake"Stu Mackenzie7:48
2."Melting"Mackenzie5:27
3."Open Water"Mackenzie7:13
4."Sleep Drifter"Mackenzie4:44
5."Billabong Valley"
  • Mackenzie
  • Ambrose Kenny-Smith
3:34
6."Anoxia"Joey Walker3:04
7."Doom City"Mackenzie3:14
8."Nuclear Fusion"
  • Mackenzie
  • Walker
4:15
9."Flying Microtonal Banana"
  • Mackenzie
  • Walker
2:34
Total length:41:53

Personnel

Credits for Flying Microtonal Banana adapted from liner notes.[9]

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

  • Michael Cavanagh – drum kit (tracks 1-8), bongos (tracks 3-5, 8, 9), percussion (track 9)
  • Cook Craig – microtonal guitar (tracks 1, 3, 7), microtonal bass guitar (tracks 4, 6)
  • Ambrose Kenny-Smith – microtonal harmonica (tracks 1, 4, 7-9), vocals (track 5), piano (tracks 1, 5, 9), synthesizer (tracks 2, 3, 8, 9)
  • Stu Mackenzie – microtonal guitar (tracks 1-8), microtonal bass guitar (tracks 2, 8), zurna (tracks 1, 3, 5-7, 9), vocals (tracks 1-4, 7, 8), percussion (tracks 1, 2, 3, 9)
  • Eric Moore – drum kit (tracks 1, 3), bongos (track 9)
  • Lucas Skinner – microtonal bass guitar (tracks 1-3, 7)
  • Joey Walker – microtonal guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9), microtonal bass guitar (track 5), vocals (track 6)

Production

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 87
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[12] 60
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[13] 79
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[14] 7
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 66
UK Albums (OCC)[16] 100
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[17] 10
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[18] 32
US Billboard 200[19] 170

References

  1. ↑ "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard". Flightless Records. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Flying Microtonal Banana - Out Feb 24". www.atorecords.com. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana". Heavenly Emporium. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Perry, Kevin EG (12 November 2016). "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: can the psych band release five albums in one year?". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Flying Microtonal Banana - King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Flying Microtonal Banana Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Flying Microtonal Banana by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard". Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  8. ↑ "Uncut's 75 Best Albums of 2017". Uncut. November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  9. ↑ Track listing and credits as per liner notes for Flying Microtonal Banana album
  10. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Flying Microtonal Banana". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Flying Microtonal Banana" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Flying Microtonal Banana" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Flying Microtonal Banana" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  15. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  16. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
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