Listening to ‘Flags’ feels like a nostalgic jump into the peak punk era, a return to the grittiest guitar tones, the most vivid vocals and a general chaotic flair, something that’s perhaps not so common anymore these days. The humans behind the record perfectly mirror such an aesthetic: hailing from Brighton, No See Ums delve into punk and garage stylings with the utmost confidence, believing in their irresistible, powerful riffs and galloping grooves.
Blinking an eye to the original skinhead fashion, No See Ums rejects the movement’s modern ideals, instead exposing the problematic and often unreasonable quirks of far-right patriotism and its twisted ideology. ‘Flags’ follows this very same theme, indulging in a quirky and witty reflection on nationalistic pride in modern Britain.
Overall, No See Ums are a refreshing outfit amongst the sea of attention-seeking pop acts. Exploring deeper into the meaning behind ‘Flags’, they explain: “Many people notice that there’s a crisis in Britain, there’s this undercurrent of nationalism that’s returned. The protagonist in the song… it sounds like he’s talking about a woman in a very inappropriate way, and it’s only later that we find out it’s about the Union flag.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Flags’ on Spotify:
