Flight b741 explained

Flight b741
Type:	studio
Artist:	King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Cover:	FlightB741.jpg
Border:	yes
Alt:	A wooden airplane four-wings-high stacked with model pigs and straw and flying in the clouds.
Genre:	Blues rock
Length:	43:06
Label:	p(doom)
Producer:	Stu Mackenzie
Prev Title:	The Silver Cord
Prev Year:	2023

Flight b741 is the 26th studio album by Australian psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, released on 9 August 2024. The album was announced on 1 July and was made available for pre-order eight days later.^[1] This album marks a return to the band's blues rock and boogie roots. Flight b741 is the first King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard record to be released on their new label, P(doom) Records.

Background

On 27 October 2023, when the band released their 25th studio album, The Silver Cord, they posted a thank you post via Instagram^[2] while teasing another record. On 6 May 2024, the band announced their new label, p(doom) Records, which they named after the concept of P(doom) in artificial intelligence.^[3] During the European leg of the band's World Tour 2024, multiple songs from Flight b741 would be debuted a month before the album's announcement.^[4]

The album was based on jam sessions and sees the band incorporating a blues rock style reminiscent of their sound on 2019's Fishing for Fishies. Lead vocalist Stu Mackenzie said about the record: "We're having a lot of fun, but we're often singing about some pretty heavy shit," Mackenzie adds, "and probably hitting on some deeper, more universal themes than usual. It's not a sci-fi record, it's about life and stuff. But the record is like a really fun weekend with your mates, you know? Like, proper fun."^[5]

Mackenzie also stated:

Album cover

The album cover for Flight b741 was designed by Jason Galea and features a wooden airplane piloted by eight pigs. According to an Instagram post by Galea, the airplane is a model, and the pigs were meticulously crafted from clay.

Personnel

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

• Stu Mackenzie – vocals, guitar (all tracks), bass guitar (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8–10), Mellotron (tracks 3, 9), organ (track 3)
• Ambrose Kenny-Smith – vocals (all tracks), harmonica (tracks 1–7, 10), saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9), piano (tracks 1, 2, 8–10), Mellotron (track 7)
• Joey Walker – vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 1–4, 6, 8–10), bass guitar (tracks 5, 7)
• Michael Cavanagh – vocals, drums, percussion (all tracks)
• Cook Craig – vocals (all tracks), organ (tracks 3–8, 10), Mellotron (tracks 1, 7, 9), bass guitar (track 2)
• Lucas Harwood – vocals (all tracks), bass guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9, 10), piano (tracks 3, 5, 7, 10), organ (track 2), electric piano (track 10)

Additional musicians

• Sam Joseph – pedal steel guitar (tracks 1, 5, 7, 10); full band recording

Technical

• Stu Mackenzie – production, engineer, mixing
• Joe Carra – mastering

Artwork

• Jason Galea – artwork, layout, photography
• Maclay Heriot – photography

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[6]	8
UK Albums Sales (OCC)^[7]	25
US Billboard 200^[8]	118
US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[9]	21

Notes and References

1. Web site: King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard Board 'Flight b741' . Spin.
2. Web site: kinggizzard on Instagram: "So stoked to have this album out now. Even though we've made a few records now (25?!) it still feels like a brand new thrill every time. Grateful to anyone who has a listen, comes to a show or buys a record. I can't believe we get to call this our "job". Can't wait to show you the next one… Love stu xox" . Instagram . 27 Oct 2023 . 9 Jul 2024.
3. Web site: Carter . Daisy . GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith are teaming up again for new collaborative album 'III Times' . DIY . 22 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508154952/https://diymag.com/news/gum-ambrose-kenny-smith-iii-times . 8 May 2024 . en . 7 May 2024 . live.
4. Web site: Todd . Nate . Watch King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Debut Boisterous New Song 'Daily Blues' In Amsterdam . JamBase . 24 May 2024 . 9 Jul 2024.
5. Web site: Flight b741, by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard . King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard . 9 Jul 2024.
6. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 August 2024. 16 August 2024.
7. Web site: Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 20 August 2024.
8. Billboard 200: Week of August 24, 2024. Billboard. 20 August 2024.
9. Independent Albums: Week of August 24, 2024. Billboard. 20 August 2024.