There are albums that feel carefully assembled, and then there are albums that feel like they’re happening right in front of you. ‘Upside Down, We’re Flying’ is the latter in the best possible way: loud, alive, gloriously messy at the edges, and bursting with the kind of chemistry you simply can’t fake.
From the opening surge of ‘Frost on the Lillies’, Evil Twin come out swinging. Guitars roar, stacking into towering waves of sound that feel both immersive and exhilarating. It’s a rush of texture that immediately pulls you into the band’s world and refuses to let go.
Then ‘California (She’s So Royal)’ kicks the doors wide open. It’s infectious, euphoric, and absolutely packed with hooks; one of those tracks that feels like it could soundtrack a late-night drive or a packed-out room in equal measure. But what really elevates it is the way it spirals outward, stretching into wild, exploratory territory without ever losing its grip on melody.
That fearless energy takes a darker, heavier turn with ‘In Flames’, where the band dial into something moodier and more intense. The groove locks in, the atmosphere thickens, and suddenly you’re in a completely different headspace; proof that this album isn’t content to sit in one lane for long.
‘Red Thread’ and ‘Gym Gurlz’ keep the momentum surging, each bringing their own flavour. The former aches with a kind of restless longing, while the latter feels loose, playful, and brilliantly self-aware. It’s this constant shifting that makes the album so addictive. You never quite know where it’s heading next, but you know it’s going to be exciting.
The mid-to-late stretch of the record is where things really hit another level. ‘Aren’t You Lucky’ glows with warmth and reflection, while ‘Kudzu’ drifts into a hazy, almost dreamlike space, full of layered harmonies and subtle turns.
‘C74’ is a standout, building with an intensity that feels almost overwhelming, as if multiple ideas are colliding in real time. And then comes ‘ETA Carinae’, a closer that starts in quiet isolation before erupting into something huge, cinematic, and genuinely breathtaking. It’s the kind of ending that makes you sit in silence for a second after it’s done, just taking it all in.
What makes ‘Upside Down, We’re Flying’ so thrilling is how alive it feels. The interplay between Peter McGee, Claire Stevens, and Riina Dougherty is electric, with every note, every shift, and every burst of sound driven by instinct and connection.
Together, Evil Twin have crafted an indie-rock record that is loud, emotional, unpredictable, and absolutely soaring.