Maya Jane Coles' second full-length under her own name (and third overall, counting a 2015 effort under her dubstep-inspired alias
Nocturnal Sunshine) is an ambitious double album alternating between throbbing dance tracks and more sensuous downtempo cuts. All of the songs feature vocals, mostly sung by
Coles herself, and while many of them include full lyrics, on other tracks the vocals are more fragmentary, almost subliminal. On the slower tracks,
Coles seems fond of crackling trip-hop drum loops, and finds comfort in shadowy places. As she sings on the title track, "This is where we take flight, into the night," and "Blackout" is an ode to the joys of slumber. Other tracks are a bit more vulnerable and nervy, such as "Weak" ("You make me weak inside"), and "Darkside" is far from pleasant, with guest Chelou letting off steam over a heavy, churning beat. The album's dance tracks offer the same sort of hazy sensuality as the slower ones, just with more pumped-up beats and more propulsive bass, sometimes adding a garage shuffle or house chords. The tracks that make the biggest impact often do so with minimal lyrics, such as "Won't Let You Down" or "Chasing Sunshine" (which rides a nice, fluid bass tone and steady, chunky breaks). "Werk" is a fun little dice game with cut-up vocals and what sounds like a saxophone sample, and is easily one of the album's most energetic tracks. Like several other tracks on the album, there's also a hint of
New Order-esque guitar in the mix, blending
Coles' new wave and indie dance influences with her mastery of crafting lush tech-house tracks. Considering the sheer volume of material, it's inevitable that not every track on
Take Flight resonates, but it does contain a generous number of highlights. At least initially, it seems best to approach the album as background listening and let the tracks reveal themselves over time, rather than attempt to concentrate on them all on the first go-round. ~ Paul Simpson