The Moth & The Flame

The Moth & The Flame- Self-titled debut album (Provo)
Self-Released November 2011 (local only)
on SoundCloud
(look for a national release later this spring)

There are times to admit when I am being partial and biased, but this is not one of those times.

The Moth & The Flame's debut album is taking Utah by storm. Once the record hits it's national release, I expect it to be competing fairly quickly with any heavily successful indie groups releases.

I won't say much about them right now (saving more details about them for another post) but I will tell you that so many people believed in this band and this album, they sold out their album-release show (over 300 people) and at the last minute had to add a second show for later in the weekend (with over 200+ attendees). UNHEARD OF! Especially for a band so early on in their development. - Scene Sister

Velour owner Corey Fox said in an e-mail that The Moth & The Flame’s self-titled debut album might be the best release to ever come out of Utah. That’s some big hype, but Fox is certainly right on the money regarding the potency of this nine-song brew, which was engineered by Scott Wiley. Brandon Robbins and Mark Garbett are the giants of the band, supported by a cast of characters. And the band literally built giant figures—upwards of 20-feet-tall—for the video for the album’s first single, “Goodbye.” And in the week leading up to the show, those giants will be scattered about Provo, so be on the lookout. Book On Tape Worm and Soft Science will also play. Velour, 135 North University Ave., Provo, 8 p.m., $8 - City Weekly

When there is something trending in Provo, UT word usually spreads rather quickly; a great example of this would be the name Jimmer. Well another example of this is a band called The Moth & The Flame. For several weeks, leading up to their Album Release party, random posters that read "11.11.11" filled the college town with anticipation and wonder. Word of mouth on the band spread quickly and it seemed as if the whole town knew about the bands upcoming show at Provo's Velour Live Music Gallery. Pre-sale tickets quickly sold out and the band decided to add a second show to meet the demand of their rapidly expanding fan base.

So who exactly is The Moth & The Flame? Well, here is what I dug up on them, they are Brandon Robbins (Vocals, Guitar) and Mark Garbett (Keys, Vocals) from Provo, Utah. They have their self-titled debut album out now which features 9 songs and can be purchased over at their website. The album is rather good and it kind of looks like Provo, Utah might have a hidden gem on their hands, as TM&TF are more then buzzband worthy.

Listening to the album I could hear at times some huge potential for something that might be worthy of a big stage presence. I could also hear some of that early 2000's alternative rock that the radio seemed to love over and over again. But when you dig a little deeper and give the album a few more listens you get a very mature and developed sound. There are moments of lush piano, guitar and vocal mixtures that work so well together. Garbett and Robbins have spent the past year experimenting and perfecting their album with adding layer after layer. They both have this to say about the album “You won’t find political statements, religious views or any of ‘the issues’ in these songs, although some have been interpreted that way,” “All of the songs on this album have come from an interesting place, a very serious and real place.” “The lyrics throughout the album focus on redemption and hope. There is no fear in the album of being positive,” said Garbett. “At the same time there is plenty of sincere struggle that you hear.”

'Maker' starts things off as a dark and misty opener, offering up some big synth sounds layered with haunting vocals. On 'How We Woke Up' the vocals come off with a nice little drawl. From the first two songs The Moth & The Flame show a talent in there music and song writing. There is definitely a confidence in their music, and you can tell this is a band that believes in what they are creating. Both 'Home' and 'Goodbye' give a nice change of pace slower side to the music with once again showcasing the vocals and letting them control where the songs go. 'Lullabye II' finds its way right square in the middle of the album and it is slow song perfection as it takes you on a mini personal journey.

The second half of the album seems to be a little fuller in its sound. '&' was my favorite song from the album as it shows more guitar sounds then any other song on the album. I felt that the guitar gently over powered the vocals and actually gave the song some edge which was a nice change. I would love to hear more guitar polished tunes like this from TM&TF in future releases. 'Entitled' and 'Dreamer' both feel very complete as individual songs, as they give the listener a little taste of everything. 'The Hunt' closes up the album perfectly, offering up all those chilling, laid back vocals and music heard in the previous 8 songs. It almost could be said that it is the "Conclusion" to the story the album was telling, and what that story is, is totally up to each individual listener.

Overall this album is a steady debut from The Moth & The Flame which tends to be heavy on the soft vocals and haunting guitars and keyboard. The 9 songs all work well together and go hand in hand with each other. There is no real single you would pull from here, it truly is a complete album and for the full experience it should be listened to with that intent.
- Fake Plastic Tunes

In Velour’s lobby and on the sidewalk, where 100 or more folks are lined up for The Moth & The Flame’s 11/11/11 CD release show, there are sculptures of giants: Art meets art rock. There’s a giddy excitement, like winged creatures of the night attracted to a terrestrial light.

You wouldn’t know it backstage, though; there are mild laughs about infamous Provo emcees and ridiculous banter about blowing oneself up in a rock & roll blaze of glory. The air is calm. If there is any anxiety, it is hidden under the gummy bears and assorted candies that lie on the table. Below LP covers of quintessential rock and folk greats pinned to the walls of the dimly lit green room, a veritable who’s who of the scene’s musicians pop in to offer support.

Perhaps the calm is from comfort. Brandon Robbins, the band’s guitarist and vocalist, is no stranger to the Velour stage. “I started as an official nobody here—playing open-mic nights with horrible gear,” he recalls. He’s circled up with his band on an array of thrift-store couches.

“As a sound guy, you totally judge bands based on their gear, and I was like, ‘Oh, great,’” says Nate Pyfer, who runs sound for Velour’s Tuesday open-mic night on occasion; he is now a member of The Moth & The Flame and the producer of their self-titled debut.

“While I couldn’t understand a single lyric Brandon sang, there were just these unbelievable melodies,” Pyfer says. “They were not four-chord songs.” That night, Robbins was joined by keyboardist Mark Garbett for their first public performance. Pyfer remembers thinking that they just needed direction. Robbins and Garbett cite Pyfer and Velour owner Corey Fox as helping define that direction. The outcome: ambient-rich, lush tunes that speak for themselves—nine songs that oscillate from dark and brooding to synthy, Radiohead-esque gems.

On the stage, there is upgraded gear for Robbins and Garbett and an array of sample pads to trigger special effects. “We like using that stuff so we can be more true to the record,” Pyfer says. “I want to go to a show and not hear a thin version of a band’s songs.” There’s no “press play” moment on a laptop. It is honest and true. This is the first time many people will hear these songs.

That same calm from backstage was mirrored as the band played. If someone was chatting, they were soon hushed—a harmonious hush. It was a collective, nonverbal contract toward reverence and curiosity. The show highlights were also the finer points of the album—a song like “Home,” or even moments like the bridge in “&.”

The band seemed to soak up the silence and use it as a canvas for their intricately crafted tunes that evening. Their paintbrushes are influenced by some greats: “Musically, the professionalism of Radiohead; artistically, Beck—everything he does,” Robbins says.

The songs were unraveled in the same order as the album. “These nine songs are so different, but they fit together so well as an artistic project. The production and the feeling of it is what connects the whole album,” Robbins says in response to Garbett discussing a video series.

“We want to do a video series—one for almost every song on the album. I have a lot of ideas, but it’s hard to explain,” Garbett says. “Maybe when we get more videos out, it will make sense. It will be simplistic, but with a heavy focus on the visual.”

This artistic aesthetic is pivotal for what The Moth & The Flame hope to be. The first video, “Goodbye,” will include those giants from out front and the band dressed up as turn-of-the-century pilots/adventurers; the video will premiere early 2012, Garbett says. “We’ve based the video off of the album artwork, and when we saw [the artwork], we knew that we had to have it. The textures, the meaning, the symbolism—it really connects to our sound,” Robbins says. The album is not currently available for digital download because the artwork—a surreal image of a turn-of-the- century pilot propped up horizontally by crutches in an - City Weekly

The problem with going to so many live shows is that it sometimes means I don’t get through my email as quickly as I’d like. Stuck in my email for almost a week, Mark from Utah’s The Moth & The Flame wanted to let me know about their debut album that came out last week. They found me through another band I mentioned a couple of months ago, Desert Noises, who they opened for recently.

At any rate, I listened to four tracks from the debut album, and have to say I’m seriously impressed. TM&TF crafts ultra-fantastical lo-fi mood rock, tending towards folk in some of its journeys, but also overlaid with a pleading and subtle psychedelia. The duo, Mark Garbett and Brandon Robbins, add a couple more members for live shows; they’ve already made a pretty good name for themselves in the Provo region, but anyone listening to the new album will likely agree with me that they won’t stay hidden there for too long.

Stream their video for the track “Lullaby II” above. - New Music Michael (Canada)

The Moth And The Flame “How We Woke Up”
(album "The Moth And The Flame“ How We Woke Up)
Stuck In The Sound “Criminal” (album "Pursuit" It's Record)
Laolu “How Strange” (album "Mental Groove Records Compilation" Mental Groove)
Battant “Butcher” Marc Houle remix (Kill The Dj)
Joakim / Bambounou “FFWD” (Ep “Fructose” Sound Pellegrino)
Joe Goddard “All I Know” (Greco-Roman / DFA)
les liens


The Moth & The Flame : le site
Le site du groupe The Moth & The Flame, jeune duo de Provo dans l'Utah, qui y propose son album. Et ce avec une profession de foi qui prône l'objet, le graphisme, le livret, la pochette et assume donc de ne pas fournir pour l'instant de format fichier. Seul l'objet disque les satisfait, et c'est un choix courageux ! - France Inter (France)

Os The Moth & The Flame são uma banda natural de Provo, no Utah e que lançaram o seu disco homónimo de estreia a 11.11.11. Brandon Robbins e Mark Garbett conhecem-se há algum tempo e depois de já estarem estado juntos noutra banda, no início deste ano resolveram formar um novo projeto, tendo assim nascido os The Moth & The Flame. Uma das primeiras aparições ao vivo deste grupo surpreendeu imenso Nate Pyfer, outro músico local que logo se prontificou a produzir o primeiro disco do projeto.
Logo a abrir, Maker e How We Woke Up evidenciam a sonoridade de todo o disco, que tem como único e simples propósito entoar pop atmosférica, através de canções que envolvam o ouvinte em ambientes etéreos. No entanto e ao contrário do que pode suceder neste tipo de sonoridade, The Moth & the Flame não é um disco aborrecido ou repetitivo. A banda pega firmemente no seu som e usa-o como se fosse um pincel para criar obras sonoras carregadas de pequenos mas preciosos detalhes intrigantes, interessantes e exuberantes. Muitas vezes um simples detalhe fornecido por uma corda, uma tecla ou uma batidas aguda dão logo uma cor imensa às canções e a própria voz serve, frequentemente, para transmitir essa ideia de exuberância e sentimento. Depois também há canções como & e Dreamer, que nos fazem descolar um pouco mais desta zona de conforto sonora e arriscam ambientes épicos e com uma instrumentalização ainda mais diversificada.
A página da banda no Facebook cita Vampire Weekend, Coldplay e Muse como as suas principais influências. A estas eu juntaria sem qualquer receio Efterklang, Radiohead, Müm e Sigur Rós.
Os The Moth & The Flame também me parecem ser um grupo que aposta fortemente na vertente visual, como comprova o seu site oficial. O álbum está, para já, apenas disponível como um CD de imprensa rígido e na Provo natal estão a tentar exibir um gigante antropomórfico semelhante ao que ilustra a capa.
Neste tempo em que abundam os downloads rápidos e as embalagens descartáveis é reconfortante ver uma banda tão interessada e orgulhosa da forma como apresenta a sua música, ainda mais quando o essencial (a música) é bastante recomendável! Uma bonita surpresa vinda do Utah para encerrar 2011 e que espero que aprecies devidamente… - Man on the Moon (Portugal)

Lo que este dúo pretende no es cosa fácil en estos días. Como dicen en su Web, decidieron editar el disco solo en formato físico por la importancia que tiene el arte en el concepto del trabajo (suelen presentarlo con instalaciones). Oscilando entre el folk despojado y la electricidad, las canciones son tan delicadas y cambiantes que lindan lo pretencioso y cuesta ponerles una etiqueta. Este pide varias escuchas, así que a armarse de paciencia.

(Independiente) - Los In Rocks (Argentina)

The Moth & The Flame are a new band hailing from Provo in the US. They are a two-piece band comprising of Brandon Robbins on vocals and guitar and Mark Garbett on vocals and keys.

Below you can listen to two tracks from the bands debut self-titled album which includes How We Woke Up, a melodic track with really nice vocals working perfectly for the structure of the track and Maker, another great track from the band reminding me of Radiohead's more mellow material. If you like what you hear, check them out on their Soundcloud page or 'Like' them at their Facebook page! - Going Underground Is Entertainment (UK)

El enero de Buenos Aires no tiene nada que ver con el de Provo, Utah, Estados Unidos. Pero mientras a nosotros el calor nos hace ponernos como esquimales debajo del aire acondicionado, el dúo Moth and the Flame nos invita a empezar a juntar provisiones en forma de melodías para el invierno que algún día llegará. Dueños de un registro low fi, grave y minimalista, esta banda, que lanzó su primer disco el pasado 11.11.11 y ha teloneado a Low, le habla a la parte tuya que quiere que el calor se termine de una vez.

Si bien en el mail que nos mandaron recomiendan Lullaby II como carta de presentación les recomendanos también que le peguen una escuchada al disco completo y sobre todo a la más luminosa Home. Música ideal para empañar tus ventanas y dibujar tipitos con palitos - Amo Descubrir Canciones (Argentina)

No queremos que en esta época de listas y días de asueto nos dejemos cosas interesantes que nos brindan los últimos días del año. Entre esas propuestas brilla con luz propia un nuevo grupo de Utah llamado The Moth & The Flame que nos ofrece una grata propuesta.

Mark Garbett y Brandon Robbins son las cabezas pensantes de este proyecto que surgió hace un año y que después de meses de trabajo se ha traducido en el álbum debut homónimo de los americanos. Un disco de rock pausado, denso y embaucador, creando atmósferas que te atrapan desde la primera escucha.

Me vienen a la mente nombres como Bradford Cox o Sigur Rós con esas propuestas de viaje a mundos oníricos, desconocidos pero agradables, al escuchar el precioso debut de TM & TF. Una sorpresa a estas alturas del año, cuando crees que ya estaba toda la carne en el asador. - Paper Blog (Spain)

Hoy hablamos de la banda de Utah formada por Brandon Robbins y Mark Garbett, que presentan su primer LP y homónimo The Moth & The Flame (2011). Con influencias de Sparkle Horse, y Neil Young, al escuchar este álbum encuentras también un toque a Sigur Rós fantástico.

Estamos ante una muy buena colección de temas, en la que se crean unas preciosas atmósferas, espesas pero agradables, muy serenas, que te van envolviendo a lo largo de todo el álbum, y que es una de las grandes sorpresas de final de año.

El disco inicia con "Maker", un gran tema para empezar y que te abre la puerta al mundo en el que te va a sumergir el disco a lo largo de sus cuarenta minutos de duración. Tras él encontramos unas buenas canciones, como "Home", y con el paso de éstas vamos llegando a los que para mi son los mejores temas del álbum, "Lullaby", la canción mas corta y mas pausada del disco, de la que a continuación veremos el vídeo. "&" y "Dreamer" son temas con muy buenos ritmos y preciosos estribillos (para mi los mejores temas del álbum), y también me gusta el corte, "Entitled", en el que tras un cambio de ritmo a mitad de canción, te sorprende mas adelante con un stop & go bastante interesante.

En definitiva, hablamos de un disco que recomiendo totalmente a los amantes de la música repleta de atmósferas minimalistas, tipo Sigur Rós, o Jonsi por extensión, o los Radiohead menos actuales. - Sendas Espirales (Spain)

"Those of us who live here know everything that this city is capable of producing. As the most conservative city with a population over 100,000 in the United States, there is bound to be a reactionary art scene" - Provo Music Guide

Tras descubrir a los fenomenales Desert Noises, nos alertaron de una nueva banda en la escena Provo, una localidad universitaria en Utah donde últimamente surgen muchas y buenas bandas. Su nombre era The Moth &The Flame y tras buscar algo de información sobre ellos, empezamos a escuchar una propuesta realmente interesante y con la que nos quedamos gratamente sorprendidos.

Su álbum debut, lanzado este recién terminado mes de Noviembre y de titulo homónimo, es la primera puesta pública en escena del proyecto creado por Mark Garbett y Brandon Robbins. Lo suyo es un rock artístico, de medios tiempos, abstracto en ocasiones, sugerente y espeso como la niebla en el bosque a media noche. La letra, hilando con esta última idea, bien podría ser un recorrido a ciegas y decidido por dicha espesura. Un relato de autoreflexión, esperanza y valor. Un viaje trascendental.

Tras un duro año de trabajo en el que Garbett y Robbins han conseguido crear esta maravilla de álbum, ahora es el momento de que lo disfrutemos nosotros. En ocasiones, pienso en The Moth & The Flame como la cara positiva, más palpable y material de uno de los proyectos de Bradford Cox, Atlas Sound. Otras, encuentro alguna similitud con la hipotética versión más americana de Sigur Ros. Parece que en la tierra del folk, algo está cambiando.

TM&TF enganchan. Sus constantes atmósferas recrean un mundo gris, árido y sin embargo, acogedor y ciertamente confortable. Son altamente adictivos y su álbum es una auténtica preciosidad. Desde aquí, como no podía ser de otra manera, os lo recomendamos encarecidamente. Os van a sorprender... - Long Brit Mag (Spain)

Por cortesía de Wikipedia, unos breves apuntes sociogeográficos para ubicarnos. Provo es la segunda ciudad por población del estado de Utah, en el medio oeste norteamericano, apenas conocido entre nosotros por haber albergado unas olimpiadas de invierno en su capital, Salt Lake City, y, sobre todo, por ser el centro de operaciones de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días. O sea, los mormones.

Situada a 1.397 metros de altura sobre el nivel del mar, en la cadena urbana conocida como Wasatch Front, apenas cuenta con poco más de 112.000 habitantes, en torno a 34.000 de los cuales son estudiantes de la Brigham Young University, universidad privada directamente vinculada a la iglesia predominante en el estado. Ésta, a su vez, dispone en la localidad de su Missionary Training Center, centro del que salen, dispuestos a evangelizarnos, esos chicos con corbata negra, camisa blanca de mangas cortas y etiqueta identificativa en el pecho que tanto sudan luego durante el tórrido verano andaluz.

El porcentaje de su población estudiantil, un dato siempre significativo a la hora de baremar ciudades en términos de música pop, podría inducirnos a engaño (o no): habida cuenta de los rígidos preceptos mormones, la Brigham Young, vuelve a señalar Wikipedia, es considerada “la universidad más sobria de Estados Unidos”. Un terreno, podría intuirse a priori, poco propicio para la manifestación de determinadas sensibilidades artísticas.

De tan singular paisaje, sin embargo, proviene The Moth & The Flame, grupo comandado por Brandon Robbins (voz y guitarra) y Mark Garbett (teclados y voz), que a mediados del pasado mes de noviembre debutó con un álbum de título homónimo y autoeditado, sorprendente no tanto ya por su lugar de origen –al fin y al cabo, puede que eso sólo sea folclore– como por su esplendorosa, compacta y emotiva colección de canciones.

Con evidentes y reconocidas referencias en Radiohead –en concreto, los anteriores a Kid A–, no pocos ecos también del Beck más calmado –el de Sea Changes, claro– y algo de la natural solemnidad –será el paisaje, en su caso– que adornó al inolvidable Grace de Jeff Buckley, The Moth & The Flame es uno de esos discos inesperados que acaban por fijarse en la atención a consecuencia de la insistente curiosidad que su contenido provoca. Quiénes son, de dónde vienen y todo lo demás.

Y así, uno descubre que, poco después de un año en activo, el dúo, flanqueado en directo por otros músicos de apoyo –entre ellos, el propio productor del álbum, Nate Pyfer– se saca de la chistera, y casi podríamos decir que de la nada, un debut impecable, por momentos conmovedor, que no cuenta con versión oficial en descarga digital porque Robbins y Garbett consideran que una portada como dios manda; la totalidad del diseño del envoltorio; el envoltorio de la música en sí, es parte ineludible del artefacto artístico que nos proponen.

Y así, uno entonces piensa, con evidente riesgo de equivocarse, que quizás en Provo la modernidad es otra cosa, y que la misma distancia que en lo sonoro separa al grupo de una a veces asfixiante cercanía a la actualidad es la que le permite crear un trabajo con tan evidentes y convencidas pretensiones sin siquiera rozar la grandilocuencia, el vacío.

Aunque de momento sólo se puede comprar en formato físico, si así lo desea, a través de la web del grupo –otro ejemplo en sí mismo del ajustado uso que la banda hace del diseño–, The Moth & The Flame puede escucharse íntegro vía soundcloud en la misma dirección. Ésa es sin duda la mejor manera posible de comprobar si canciones como la sobrecogedora Entitled, pese a sus deudas con OK Computer, o la inicial y contundente Maker son de ésas que también a usted le sacuden el cerebro.

Ahí le dejo el clip de Lullaby II, registrado unos meses antes de la aparición del álbum en un paisaje glacial (como Provo en invierno, imagino). - La Ventana Pop (Spain)

Das Debüt-Album „The Moth & The Flame“ des gleichnamigen Duos aus Utah ist Ende 2011 erschienen, ist aber bis heute kaum auf dem Musikradar von Blogger und Magazinen aufgetaucht. Auf das kleine Meisterwerk hat uns Kollege Impuls (derimpuls.blogspot.com/) aufmerksam gemacht und auch wir verfielen dem Sound von Brandon Robbins (Gitarre / Vocals) und Mark Garbett (Keys / Vokals) augenblicklich.
Das alternative Pop-Hörerlebins erinnert ebenso an die Anfangszeiten von Radiohead wie auch an aktuelles Schaffen von Bands wie Sigur Rós, Tiger Lou, Archive oder The Album Leaf. Langsamen Melodien und sanften Klangwelten entfalten sich, zögerlich getragen von gehauchtem Gesang der gleichberechtigten Sänger. - Fingerzeig (Germany)

Es ist doch immer wieder schön, wenn in den weiten Netzlandschaften immer mal ein Album an Land schwappt und man vom ersten Moment an drin vernarrt ist. Liebe auf dem ersten Blick gibt es nicht nur zwischen zwei Personen. Auch wenn diese Liebschaften nicht für die Erwigkeit bestimmt sind, ist es häufig eine schöne Romanze. Bei mir aktuell ist es das selbstbetitelte Album von The Moth And The Flame aus Provo (Utah).

Dahinter stecken Brandon Robbins (Gitarre / Vocals) und Mark Garbett (Keys / Vocals). Die Musik ist kaum zu beschreiben, sollten aber Fans von Sigur Rós, Archive und The Album Leaf gefallen. Da überschneidet sich so einiges. So klingt das Album sehr kreativ und macht 41 Minuten große Freude. Die zahlreichen Samples und Gesangparts sind so spannend zusammengetragen worden, da haben sich die beiden Musiker große Mühe für gegeben. Und auch das Cover ist grandios gemacht worden. Ein tolles Album.

Das erste Album und schon so große Musik. Da wird hoffentlich noch mehr kommen. Ergreifende Atmosphären, die einen so schnell nicht loslassen. Die Gefühle im Gesang erinnern an Jónsi, weswegen das Gesamtwerk auch gleich vertraut vorkommt. Und doch ist es keine schlechte Kopie, sondern die beiden gehen weiter und zeichnen eisige Welten im Kopf des Hörers. Eine unvergessliche Reise in die Weiten der Soundwelten. - Der Impuls (Germany)

The Moth and the Flame
The Moth and the Flame
Unsigned
November 11, 2011
If such a thing still exists, The Moth and the Flame (TMATF) is art rock. From the carefully crafted tracks on their six-track, self-titled, debut album to the 20-foot-tall anthropomorphic giants used in promoting their symbolic 11/11/11 album release, the Provo, Utah rockers demonstrate a keen eye and ear for aesthetics.
The album’s Radiohead-meets shoegazer sound comes courtesy of Brandon Robbins and Mark Garbett. “How We Woke Up” serves as a proper introduction to TMATF’s flavor. Breathy vocals periodically click and snap into life as Garbett’s keys crescendo before sliding back into oblivion. This recipe keeps the album’s continuity, each track blending effortlessly into the next.
A track not to be missed, “Dreamer” reaches higher than all the rest, boldly using reverb to emphasize its message. Pensive keys reminiscent of M83 develop the album’s atmospheric sound in a new way, meshing perfectly with “Dreamer”’s fellow tracks.
Consistent with TMATF’s artsy character, the high-production value of the “Lullaby II” video commits TMFTF to good art. Filmed on the frozen and precarious-looking surface of Utah Lake, Robbins and Garbett send a melancholy message into a all-too-fitting wilderness. Additionally, the group expresses a commitment to the album’s art on the frontpage of their website, claiming it is “not an afterthought but rather an integral part of the process”. It is for this reason, they say, that the album is only available in physical form.
In a word, TMATF is about feeling. From the emotions in their lyrics to the simple pleasure of receiving an album in the mail, Robbins and Garbett’s album offers a 45-minute reminder of how to appreciate life’s joys. - University of San Diego Radio

This isn’t just any old album.
After a year of hard work, local band The Moth & The Flame is culminating the work on their debut album with a show at Velour Live Music Gallery tonight. According to some in the local music scene, it is some of the best music to ever come out of Provo. The CD release show will also feature Book on Tape Worm and Soft Science.
Pianist Mark Garbett said he and guitarist Brandon Robbins have been working hard on the album for about a year and are proud of what they have created, an album he described as art-rock. The band showed their artsy side by building giants, which have been on display in a front lawn south of campus, but will be moved to the front of Velour for the show.

Photo courtesy of The Moth & The Flame
Local band The Moth & The Flame will release a new album at an upcoming Velour concert.
“We wanted to do an art installation,” Garbett said. “We thought of creating giants, something really big to make a statement.”
Robbins said Corey Fox, the owner of Velour, had much to do with the band’s success so far, as he helped in the process of their music video, booked them shows and gave valuable advice.
“Corey Fox and Velour have helped us a lot,” Robbins said. “He’s kind of raised the band. Velour is by far our favorite place to play.”
Fox said his passion is in band management, and loves working with bands who not only have the talent, but the dedication and hard work ethic necessary to make it in the music business.
“My motivation is trying to find new talent, and then to build that talent to help them be successful,” Fox said. “The Moth & The Flame is a band that obviously has the talent, but they’ve also showed the commitment and work ethic that it takes to succeed.”
Fox also believes the band’s work has paid off, and is proud of the album they created.
“The whole thing’s come together,” Fox said. “In my opinion, it may be the best album to ever come out of Utah.”
Kaneischa Johnson, a spokesperson for Velour, agreed with Fox, and said in pre-release parties and screening sessions that the response to the album has been positive. She said The Moth & The Flame put on a great concert, so the show itself will be amazing and worthy of the date.
“The band is worthy of an epic experience, and I couldn’t think of a better date to suit them than a date so memorable as 11-11-11,” Johnson said. “Once they’re in front of people, they just win people over in a hot second, because they’re that incredible.”
Book on Tape Worm and Soft Science, local bands and veterans of Velour, will open the show. Scott Shepard, the frontman of Book on Tape Worm, has been good friends of The Moth & The Flame, and said he is honored to open such an important show for them.
Shepard currently lives in Portland, but said he would not miss it, and would have driven to Provo whether or not his band played.
Robbins said the show represents the completion of the album, but that does not mean the band is stopping.
“I’m excited to have it off our shoulders and into people’s hands,” Robbins said. “It’s really nice to have it finished, and now we can start working on the next one.” - The Daily Universe

“Hot new band” and “Provo,Utah” are probably two things that rarely fall into the same sentence. Unless you’re talking about The Moth & The Flame who actually do hail from Provo, Utah and did just released a buzz-worthy first album.

Brandon Robbins and Mark Garbett came together to begin writing music as The Moth & the Flame after having been members of another band together. They performed live for the first time as a fill in act for another band and it was at that fateful show they garnered the attention of Nate Pyfer, another local musician who was impressed enough to offer to produce Robbin and Garbett’s first album. And so, The Moth & The Flame began what would become a year’s work with Pyfer on their self-titled first album which was released 11.11.11.

Hearing “How We Woke Up” on Soundcloud serves as a teaser for the potential of rest of the album. The band has a unique and smooth take on a brand of atmospheric pop that has the ability to pull the listener in. The Moth and the Flame make music that wraps around you. It draws you down with a smooth arm and holds you underwater where you discover you can breathe just fine after all. Atmospheric but never boring, the band manages to really take firm hold of their sound and use it as a brush on a canvas they themselves have woven.

Their Facebook page cites multiple influences and one can hear bits of these (Vampire Weekend, Coldplay, Muse) in the music they’ve posted so far. It’s intriguing and interesting and lush. Their live act has garnered enough of a following that when they announced their record released the band booked and sold out not one but two successive record release shows. And they’ve attracted some great assistance for the release, Scott Wiley (Neon Trees) engineered the album and Mike Rosekelly (Kaskade) mixed it.

Even without the name dropping, this band is worth checking out. The album is available as a hard press CD only at this time; A bold move for a new band and an interesting one. Mark tells me that they are a highly visual band and designed a concept around the album to include cover/packaging art work and even an “installation of anthropomorphic giants” up to 20 feet tall to promote the album. These giants were displayed prominently in their native Provo then removed from their installation and moved to the venue for their record release shows. Check out a couple of pictures of their creations below.

Because of the strong attachment to the art and the concept of the album, they’ve chosen to offer only the hard copy of the CD for now. In this day of instant gratification, fast downloads and disposable (and often nonexistent) packaging, it’s refreshing to see a band take such interest and pride in how they are presenting themselves. And what’s more…judging from the work I’ve heard so far, buying the CD isn’t a risk but a reward.

Can’t wait to hear more from these guys. Who knew what they were growing out there in Utah? - In Your Speakers

"...beautiful and striking compositions, reminiscent of Sigur Ros, these songs amaze me every time I listen to them. These two lads write songs that warm the heart and break it at the same time."
- Stirling Miles christmashorselivingroomsessions.blogspot.com
"The Moth & the Flame is another local band on the verge of taking off. They are pulling out all the stops on their debut album...and are sure to stir up a lot of national attention in the next year."
- Corey Fox UVU review - ...