White Flight (band) explained

Background:	1
White Flight
Alias:	Justin Roelofs
Associated Acts:	The Anniversary, E*vax
Label:	Range Life Records Saddle Creek Records
Origin:	Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.^[1]
Genre:	Indie rock,^[2] alternative rock, experimental pop

White Flight is the solo project of Justin Roelofs, longtime musician and former singer/guitarist for The Anniversary. Roelofs released an experimental self-titled debut album in 2006, followed by a re-release in 2007.^{[3] [4]}

Background

Justin Roelofs and his friend Zach Hangauer founded Range Life Records in August 2004. Roelofs consciously abstained from writing music for six months, before going on a trip to Peru. After returning, he wrote and recorded an album "in neighbors' basements and borrowed apartments" throughout 2005. Most of the instruments on the album were played by Roelofs. The album, titled White Flight, was released on Range Life the next year.^{[5] [6] [1]} NPR described the album as "largely experimental with off-balanced poly-rhythms, electronics and strangely affected vocals" and "complementing freak folk and psychedelic rock with hip-hop beats and soul and jazz harmonies".^{[1] [2]}

The album was originally released for download only on Range Life's website, complete with album art and a "Making of White Flight" video from the label Range Life Records.^[5] Range Life Records became distributed by Saddle Creek Records in February 2007, making "White Flight" widely available through online retailers and the iTunes Store.

On February 26, 2007, Pitchfork Media gave the album a 5.5 out of 10, saying that the album lacked substance, suffers from "hippie poetry", and was "woefully disjointed".^[7]

The album White Ark, recorded in August 2007, was leaked online but never officially released. Two singles from the album, "Panther" and "Children of the Light", were released digitally in 2010 on Range Life. They also received physical releases in the United Kingdom via Make Mine.^{[8] [9]}

Roelofs formed the electronic duo Abuela with E*vax (of Ratatat), their debut release being "True Colors" in 2014.^[10]

Discography

• White Flight (2007 – Range Life)
• White Ark (unreleased)
• "Panther" (2010 – Range Life)
• "Children of the Light" (2010 – Range Life)
• "Panther"/"Children of the Light" 7" (2010 – Make Mine)

References

• AllMusic review of White Flight
• Range Life - The Austin Chronicle

External links

• Range Life Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Damien Rice, Tom Waits, The Gothic Archies . NPR . July 27, 2024 . October 26, 2006.
2. Web site: Katzif . Mike . Finding Songs Amid Clutter and Chaos . NPR . July 27, 2024 . January 19, 2007.
3. Web site: White Flight, ‘White Flight’ (Range Life) . Spin.com . July 27, 2024 . December 27, 2006.
4. Web site: White Flight . AllMusic . July 27, 2024.
5. Web site: Long Rangers . The Pitch . July 27, 2024 . November 9, 2006.
6. Web site: Freedom Promo . The FADER . July 27, 2024 . January 10, 2007.
7. Web site: LeMay . Matt . White Flight: White Flight . Pitchfork . July 27, 2024 . February 26, 2007.
8. Web site: White Flight . Range Life Records . July 27, 2024.
9. Web site: White Flight 'Children of the Light' . Range Life Records . July 27, 2024.
10. Web site: Turner . Gus . Abuela - "True Colors" . Complex . July 27, 2024.