Flowers For Juno - Bacchanalia Coppélia
Flowers for Juno return with Bacchanalia Coppélia, a four-track EP that feels both deliberate and beautifully unhinged in equal measure.
Having previously reviewed the opening track, Message to Lana, Review Zoo were already aware of the sonic territory FFJ were exploring — but hearing it now as part of a complete body of work makes the vision even clearer.
There’s something reassuring about a band that knows exactly who they are. Flowers for Juno have a defined identity — gothic, textural, experimental — and that clarity gives them a confident foundation to build upon.
Every release feels purposeful. Every sound choice feels intentional. It’s always a joy hearing new FFJ material because they approach their craft without hesitation, delivering top-tier production and atmosphere as standard.
Bacchanalia Coppélia is no exception. Despite Benjó James describing the EP as a “butchered, convoluted mess” born from rejected submissions and hypomanic urgency, what emerges is something strangely cohesive.
The sharp edits, the intensity, the compressed structures — they don’t feel accidental. If anything, they amplify the restless, almost volatile energy that runs beneath the surface of the music.
As the architect behind the project, James once again handles the overwhelming majority of instrumentation and production — vocals, guitars, fuzz bass synthesiser, keys, programming, mellotron, and samples — reinforcing that Flowers for Juno is not just a band, but an artistic entity.
Contributions from Freja Crozier (Northumbrian harp on Message to Lana) and Tyrion ‘Bigfoot’ Jackson (slap bass on Song for D) add subtle but important textures to the EP’s already layered sound.
What makes this release particularly compelling is its refusal to smooth out the edges. The gothic metal weight, shoegaze haze, drone-doom undercurrents and electronic experimentation all collide in a way that feels instinctive rather than calculated. The EP’s origin story — rejected, reshaped, cut in half, and ultimately cleared — only adds to its character.
There’s tension baked into these tracks. A sense of urgency. A feeling that this music had to find a way out.
With Bacchanalia Coppélia, Flowers for Juno once again prove that confidence and experimentation can coexist. It’s bold, textural, and emotionally charged — a release that feels raw in spirit yet meticulously crafted in execution.
1. Message to Lana
When Flowers for Juno first released Message to Lana, Review Zoo covered the standalone single in depth, noting its cinematic weight, experimental confidence, and unmistakable FFJ atmosphere. Now, as the track resurfaces as the opening piece of their new EP, Bacchanalia Coppélia, it feels less like a repeat and more like a prologue finally placed within its intended framework.
Having previously explored the track’s towering production, clipped synth interplay, and retro-gothic undercurrent, hearing it again in the context of this EP sharpens its purpose. The disarming “Hey, this is Lana” intro still pulls the listener into that immersive FFJ soundscape, but now it plays like the opening scene of a larger narrative.
The experimentation we highlighted in our original review — the pitch-bend organ lead, the crisp hi-hat snap, the balance between reverb-soaked expanse and rhythmic precision — sets the tonal blueprint for what follows.
(For our full original single review, see Review Zoo’s previous coverage of Message to Lana.)
2. Her Kiss Is Still Warm Upon My Cheek
Her Kiss Is Still Warm Upon My Cheek lands like a breath of smoke between two pillars of intensity on Bacchanalia Coppélia.
Following the commanding atmosphere of Message to Lana — a track Review Zoo previously covered in our single review — this song shifts gears into something equally dramatic but more introspective and haunting.
From the first moments it’s clear such contrast is intentional. There’s a cinematic breadth here that pulls the listener back into Flowers for Juno’s compelling world, but it takes a different path — quieter on its feet, yet every bit as atmospheric and rich in texture.
In a way, it’s almost industrial in its construction: layered, stark, and evocative, like a machine exhaling in slow motion.
Where Message to Lana carried weight and tension, this track feels more like a moment of reflection. It’s dramatic and evocative, with a sense of lingering melancholia that suits the title beautifully.
Structurally, it functions brilliantly as the pivot point of the EP — a breather between the expansive, gothic leanings of the opener and the more forward-driving experimental edges of Song for D. It doesn’t merely sit in that gap; it defines it, setting up the mood for what follows while deepening the narrative arc of the project as a whole.
In short, this track showcases just how much vision Flowers for Juno bring to their craft. It’s atmospheric without being vague, dramatic without being chaotic, and beautifully transitional — the perfect bridge in an EP that thrives on contrast and mood.
One of the most striking elements of Her Kiss Is Still Warm Upon My Cheek is the ominous guitar motif that recurs throughout the track like a revving engine, giving the song a rhythmic, almost breathing quality. This repeated figure adds a subtly horror-like tension, pulling the listener in and keeping them on edge, perfectly complementing the EP’s dramatic atmosphere.
Where this tension draws the listener close, the opening notes of the next track, Song for D, hit hard — a bold, dynamic contrast that makes the transition feel both natural and exhilarating. It’s a clever sequencing choice that reinforces the EP’s narrative flow while highlighting Flowers for Juno’s skill at balancing mood, texture, and momentum.
3. Song For D
Song for D is a fascinating pivot point on Bacchanalia Coppélia — a track that feels simultaneously grounded and boundary-pushing.
From the opening seconds, what stands out most is the drum and bass–style percussion: tight, energetic and crisp, it gives the song a rhythmic identity all its own. It’s a bold directional shift within the EP’s otherwise brooding atmosphere, yet it never feels out of place. Instead, it adds a fresh angle to the Flowers for Juno sound, injecting momentum without compromising their overarching aesthetic.
The use of synths and effects here is equally impressive. There’s a clear sense of layering at work — with an up-front synth voice driving the melody while a deeper, more ambient layer swirls beneath, giving the whole track weight and dimensionality.
The song’s production leans into space and ambience, giving each synth swath and programmed pulse room to breathe while maintaining an uneasy emotional undercurrent. This tension makes it feel truly haunting, a whispered memory rather than an outright statement.
These synth textures entwine beautifully with Benjó James’ signature haunting vocal character, creating an interplay that feels both eerie and magnetic. The vocals don’t cut through so much as hover within the mix, like a ghostly thread winding through the instrumental landscape.
What makes Song for D especially compelling is its middle section — a clever, unexpected shift where the full sound drops away into what can only be described as a ritualistic passage. Here, the tension loosens and something more primal emerges, almost as if the track pauses to reset before its next evolution.
It’s an intriguing compositional choice — not structured like a conventional verse-chorus song, but then again, Flowers for Juno aren’t a conventional band. Their willingness to experiment, to deconstruct and reassemble musical expectations, is precisely what sets them apart.
In its closing moments, Song for D leans into a glitch-like ending that feels deliberate and creative rather than messy or tacked-on. It caps off the track with a sense of unresolved curiosity — a haunting echo that leaves the listener with a sense of intrigue.
Overall, Song for D showcases Flowers for Juno’s fearless approach to songwriting. The blend of driving rhythms, layered synths, atmospheric vocals and unconventional structure doesn’t just push boundaries — it pulls them in unexpected directions, revealing textures you didn’t know you were waiting to hear.
4. Canticles of Ecstasy
Canticles of Ecstasy is where Flowers for Juno fully embrace textural exploration, offering a track that feels less like a traditional song and more like a shifting sonic tapestry.
From the outset, what’s most striking is the wealth of layered textures — each moment brings something new, keeping the listener engaged without relying on standard song structure.
Rather than following a predictable verse-chorus pattern, FFJ build this piece around a continuous thematic flow, one that evolves organically as different sounds and moods emerge.
What could easily become repetitive is instead kept interesting through clever sonic introductions: subtle synth colours here, a shifting ambient layer there, unexpected effects that peek in and out like hidden doorways in the mix.
There’s a palpable sense that nothing in this track is accidental. Every new sound feels purposeful, like a brushstroke added to a much larger canvas. It’s a testament to FFJ’s willingness to prioritize experimentation over convention — a creative choice that pays off brilliantly here. The song doesn’t just move — it unfolds, revealing textures and tones that reward repeated listening.
The atmosphere throughout Canticles of Ecstasy is rich and layered, yet never overly dense. There’s space within the sound for each element to breathe, for each new texture to make its entrance without overwhelming what came before. It’s a fine balance — one that FFJ handle with confidence and skill.
Overall, this closing track serves as a strong statement of intent: Flowers for Juno aren’t interested in doing what’s expected. Instead, they’re crafting immersive, atmospheric experiences that challenge the listener while remaining deeply engaging. Canticles of Ecstasy stands as a testament to their evolving vision — bold, textural, and uniquely compelling.
Final Thoughts
What makes Bacchanalia Coppélia particularly compelling is the way it feels almost like drifting between different radio frequencies late at night — fragments of mood, texture and emotion bleeding into one another. There’s a deliberate unpredictability to it, as though each track exists on its own broadcast wavelength, yet all are tied together by Flowers for Juno’s unmistakable sonic identity.
It’s an EP brimming with character. Rather than following well-trodden songwriting formulas, FFJ actively step away from the familiar structures that have been recycled countless times before. In doing so, they create something that feels alive — restless, experimental and unafraid to challenge expectations.
That willingness to deviate from the standard path is exactly what makes this release so engaging. Bacchanalia Coppélia doesn’t simply present four songs; it offers four transmissions from a band confidently exploring the edges of their own creativity — and inviting listeners to tune in.
