Setting the tone with an astral and cosmic energy, Powers of the Monk open Firefly with textured drums, immersive melodies, and a sense of intrigue and dimensionality, before we experience ethereal, layered vocals and the surrealist lyrics, “Got a message from a firefly, there’s a job to do before I die, wove a pattern in the sky, said the lion never cries…”
The opus expands with intentional depth, as Powers of the Monk take us on a whimsical journey though their psyche. We learn that the composition is the “story of a deranged wannabe terrorist that gets instructions from a firefly.”
Firefly showcases emotive and instrumental mastery, and fans of Cat Power’s Werewolf would definitely be able to connect with the melodic elements of the composition, although there is no doubt that Powers of the Monk are creating a distinctive universe of their own.
Powers of the Monk is a band from Detroit, Michigan, comprised of original members Detroit Monk and Pontiac Powers. Speaking on the release, the duo confess, “Firefly is a story about a wannabe terrorist that sees messages in the blinking lights of fireflies at night. His mental instability leads him into a world of terror that he is not prepared for.”
Elaborating on the inception of the song, Detroit Monk tells us, “I was sitting on my deck one evening, watching the fireflies light up and started thinking about certain patterns. I thought that some unstable individuals could possibly use the blinking as a sign or code and that was the start of the song that became Firefly.”
We love the concept and the transcendental sonic architecture of the track, and exquisite guitar solo, creating a cohesive tapestry of sound in line with the message of the piece.
To leave us with some wisdom, the duo say, “Using terrorism in itself is an admission that one does not have the intelligence and creativity to gain favor in a humane way. Using the creativity of music to expose all kinds of human bad behavior can only help in the struggle for justice.”