Flying Colours | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 26 April 2008 | |||
Recorded | The Devils Playground & Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Label | Illusive Sounds/Liberation Music | |||
Producer | Jonathon Notley, Hattori Hunzo | |||
Bliss n Eso chronology | ||||
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Singles from Flying Colours | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Flying Colours is the third album by Australian hip hop group Bliss n Eso. It was released by Illusive Sounds on 26 April 2008.
At the J Awards of 2008, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year. [2]
The album was recorded in three different continents over twelve months, and features Illmaculate (World freestyle and Scribble Jam champion), a 20 piece African Zulu Choir (The Zulu Connections Choir), Debaser (US), Hyjak and Phrase. In an interview with The Age newspaper Jonathan Notley (Bliss) explained that the band's previous albums were recorded on the fly, in sporadic periods whenever they could score some studio time, whereas with Flying Colours, the Sydneysiders relocated to Melbourne for three months of dedicated writing and recording at Richmond's Sing Sing Studios [3]
"We decided to get out of Sydney and go somewhere where we could get up every day and just focus on making the record. It was great. We weren't worried about the pressure of what people would think, or forcing it or trying to make hits" - Notley [3]
The cover of the album features artwork by tattoo artist, Steve Cross from Melbourne. It depicts a man with blazing coloured wings leaping off a cliff.
"With this album we wanted to do something a bit different than just pictures of us. We kinda wanted to go a little bit more creative and imaginative. We thought of this concept of this guy like leaping off this cliff with these flaming colourful wings, and it kind of really worked with the context of this album and obviously the title." - Notley [4]
The first single from the album, a reworking of Citizen Cope's "Bullet and a Target", gained major national commercial radio and television airplay. Flying Colours features production from Bliss, Phrase and Hattori Hanzo, the album was mixed at Sing Sing Studios (Melbourne) by Noam Dishon and Andy Baldwin (The Cat Empire, Spiderbait, Killing Heidi).
The third single off the album "Eye of the Storm" uses the main riff and idea from folk rock duo Angus & Julia Stone song "Paper Aeroplane".
It was featured as the Triple J feature album in the week leading up to its release. [5] The album debuted a week after its release at the No. 10 position on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart. [6] [7] and reached the No. 1 position on the ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums chart. [8]
The album was nominated for a J Award in August 2008. [9]
The album was also nominated for an ARIA award for 'Best Urban Release' in 2008. [10]
In an interview with Xpress magazine Notley indicated their surprise at the album's success.
"To tell you the truth it smashed any of my expectations. The reception for the record has been fantastic so we couldn't really be happier at the moment." - Notley [11]
Following the group's successful appearance at the Sound Relief concert on 14 March 2009 at the MCG, [12] [13] "Field of Dreams" featuring Paris Wells was officially released to radio as a single. [14]
On 14 June 2009 the album became only the second Australian hip hop record to be certified gold, after being in the ARIA charts for 58 weeks. [15] In October 2010, Flying Colours was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums . [16]
All songs written by Jonathon Notley, Max MacKinnon and Noam Dishon, except where noted [17]
Flying Colours
Flying Colours limited edition bonus disc
Chart (2008/09) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA) [18] | 10 |
Bliss n Eso are an Australian hip hop trio based in Sydney, New South Wales. They are currently signed to Melbourne record label Illusive Sounds, and are managed and booked by label co-founders Adam Jankie and Matt Gudinski. Bliss n Eso have released six studio albums which include three number 1 debuts on the ARIA Charts. They have also won two ARIA Awards for Best Urban Release for their 2008 album Flying Colours and for Best Music Video for their 2017 single "Moments". Eso, under his alias Esoterik, released an album entitled "My Astral Plane" in May 2018.
Harley Webster – better known as Phrase – is an Australian hip hop MC, originating from Melbourne.
Day of the Dog is the second album by Australian hip hop group Bliss n Eso. It was released via Illusive Sounds in March 2006 in both vinyl and CD formats. The title is a metaphor for Australian hip hop being the 'underdog' of the Australian music industry, and affirming that it is now time for it to rise up. It reached the top 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
In 2005 FremantleMedia Australia producer Jason Stephens brought the idea of a television series called the Choir of Hard Knocks to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In an interview on Australian Story by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Stephens said "I'd always been quite fascinated by choirs. Living in Melbourne during that time 2005 the homelessness problem was more obvious, I guess. And I kind of thought it would be interesting to put those two ideas together to see if we could make a choir out of homeless and disadvantaged people." The ABC and Fremantle chose Reclink, a charity that had worked with homeless people in the past, as the charity that would work with the television construct and cast the choir conductor Jonathon Welch.
Flowers in the Pavement is the debut album by Australian hip hop group Bliss n Eso, which was released on 23 August 2004 via Obese Records.
The Arrival is the debut EP by the Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso, released under the group's original name Bliss n Esoterikizm. Bliss n Esoterikizm proved to be too much of a mouthful for most people so it was shortened.
Paris Wells is an Australian singer-songwriter based in Melbourne. She has released two albums and one EP. Wells has played at festivals such as Falls Festival, Big Day Out, Meredith and Sydney Music Festival. She has supported Justin Timberlake, Rod Stewart, Plan B, Robyn and Jamie Lidell on tour.
Clockwork is the second studio album by Phrase. Originally intended for a late 2007 release it was put out in April 2009. It includes collaborations with Bliss n Eso, Jackson Jackson and Daniel Merriweather and has guest appearances by Kram and Wendy Matthews. Clockwork was nominated for an ARIA for best urban album, nominated for Triple J's album of the year and was feature album on Triple J.
Hattori Hunzo is a reclusive Japanese hip hop producer, multi-instrumentalist and mixing engineer. There are no known pictures of him.
Running on Air is the fourth studio album by the Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso. It was released on 30 July 2010. The album debuted at No. 1 in Australia for the week commencing 9 August 2010. It has since been certified Platinum by ARIA. It was nominated by Australian radio station, Triple J for Album of the Year, along with Megan Washington's I Believe You Liar, and Birds of Tokyo's Birds of Tokyo.
Mark Landon, better known by his stage name M-Phazes, is an Australian-born producer based in LA. He has produced records for Logic, Demi Lovato, Madonna, Eminem, Kehlani, Zara Larsson, Remi Wolf, Kiiara, Noah Cyrus, and Cautious Clay. He produced and wrote Eminem’s “Bad Guy” off 2015’s Grammy Winner for Best Rap Album of the Year “The Marshall Mathers LP 2.” He produced and wrote “Sober” by Demi Lovato, “playinwitme” by KYLE ft. Kehlani, “Adore” by Amy Shark, “I Got So High That I Saw Jesus” by Noah Cyrus, and “Painkiller” by Ruel ft Denzel Curry.
Circus In The Sky is the fifth studio album by the Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso, following 2010's Running On Air. It was released on 28 June 2013 through Illusive Sounds. Bliss N Eso began recording the album in late 2012. The album revolves around themes such as optimism, freedom, and peace. The album instantly reached No. 1 on the iTunes albums chart upon release, and debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album was positively received and was accredited gold. Bliss N Eso toured in support for the album on the House Of Dreams Tour in 2013 and the Circus Under The Stars Tour in 2014. Circus In The Sky was nominated for an ARIA Music Award for Best Urban Album.
"My Life" is a song by Australian hip hop group Bliss N Eso, with guest vocals performed by American recording artist, Ceekay Jones. Written by Max McKinnon, Matthew Kirk, Jonathan Notley, Ebony West and Nigel Kirk, the song was first released in November 2013 as the fifth single from Bliss N Eso's fifth studio album, Circus in the Sky (2013).
'Reservoir Dogs' is a song by Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso, featuring Seth Sentry, Pez, 360 and Drapht. The song was released on 21 June 2013 through Illusive Sounds, as the third single from Circus in the Sky. The song peaked at No. 96 on the ARIA Singles Chart and finished at No. 123 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2013.
"House of Dreams" is a song by Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso. It was released on 8 March 2013 through Illusive Sounds as the first single from their fifth studio album Circus in the Sky. Critical reception to song was generally positive. 'House of Dreams' debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at No. 47 and spent 5 weeks on the chart. It also finished at No. 94 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2013. Bliss n Eso performed the song alongside 'My Life' at the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 where they were nominated for 'Best Urban Album' for Circus in the Sky. The song was also used in a promo the 2013 AFL Grand Final. In July 2013 Bliss n Eso began their 'House of Dreams Tour'.
"Reflections" is a song by Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso. It was released on 17 December 2010 through Illusive Sounds as the third single from the trio's fourth studio album, 2010's Running on Air. The song was written by MC Bliss and MC Eso. Reflections debuted at No. 86 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and peaked at No. 53. It also finished at No. 53 on the Triple J Hottest 100 for 2010. No music video was made for the song, however the audio of the song uploaded to Bliss n Eso's channel currently has over 1 million views. "Reflections" received highly positive reviews and is regarded to be one of the best songs on Running on Air. In 2013 "Reflections" was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for sales/shipments exceeding 35,000 copies.
On Tour is a song by Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso. It was released 12 June 2009 through Illusive Sounds. The song appeared on the live album Flying Colours Live, as a bonus track. The song peaked at No. 76 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
"The Sea is Rising" is a song by Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso featuring John Butler Trio. It was released in 2008 as the third single from the trio's third studio album, Flying Colours. The song peaked and debuted at No. 80 on the ARIA Singles Chart. In 2013, five years after its release, it was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for sales/shipments of over 35,000 copies.
"Bullet and a Target" is a song by Citizen Cope recorded by Australian hip hop trio Bliss n Eso, with featured vocals from Connections Zulu Choir. The song was released as the lead single from the trio's third studio album Flying Colours on 27 October 2007. Their version of Bullet and a Target was inspired by the living conditions Bliss, Eso, and Izm had witnessed when visiting South Africa in 2007. Bullet and a Target peaked at No. 43 on the ARIA Singles Chart, making it their first top 50 single and second top 100 single.
The discography of Australian hip hop group Hilltop Hoods consists of seven studio albums, six extended plays (EPs), twenty-four singles and three DVDs. Their debut studio album A Matter of Time was released independently in 1999.