Review By Glen Parkes
In just two years, First Time Flyers have gone from a newly formed UK country outfit to one of the most exciting names in the genre. After selling out their debut headline tour, dazzling crowds at C2C and The Long Road Festival, and even opening for Bruce Springsteen and The Chicks at BST Hyde Park, the four-piece now arrive with their debut album, Bound To Break, released September 12th via Lookout Mountain Records. It’s a record that cements their place as trailblazers in the UK country scene, offering a harmony-rich, heartfelt, and cinematic take on modern country.
What makes First Time Flyers stand out is their unusual formation: four lead singers, all multi-instrumentalists, from very different musical backgrounds. Poppy Fardell, Jake Morrell, Vicki Manser, and Tim Prottey-Jones each bring distinct experiences—from Nashville sessions and BBC Radio 2 airplay to West End theatre and acclaimed solo work. Together, they create a sound that is rooted in classic country storytelling but stretches comfortably into pop, rock, and singer-songwriter territory.
The album’s central theme is transformation—the idea that sometimes we need to break in order to break through. Across 15 tracks, the band explore heartbreaks, healing, identity, love, loss, and renewal. Each song is born out of their own lived experiences, which gives the album a striking intimacy.
“Jump,” already familiar to fans as a BBC Radio 2 playlist hit, is a bold opener that captures the courage of taking a leap of faith. Its counterpart, “Out of Your Mind,” digs deeper into the mistakes of love, balancing optimism with regret. Both songs show the band’s knack for pairing personal stories with universal themes.
“Before the Wind Changes” is one of the album’s most moving moments, tackling Poppy’s experience of rushing through trauma without healing—a hushed, delicate track that lingers long after it ends. “Stay,” premiered on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show, is equally striking: a tender, honest ballad about the complexity of loving someone with a difficult past.
“Looking Back Now,” co-written with Jeff Cohen the day after their first C2C gig, embodies the bittersweet feeling of fleeting firsts, urging listeners to savour life’s milestones. Meanwhile, “First Dance,” written just before Jake’s wedding, is destined to become a favourite at real-life weddings thanks to its warmth and sincerity. “Gold,” inspired by Tim’s return to band life with his closest friends, captures both resilience and gratitude in its soaring chorus.
Elsewhere, songs like “Primadonna,” “Almost,” and “Walk the Line” bring playful energy and modern hooks, proving the band can write both radio-ready hits and deeply personal ballads. The closing track, “Over the Moon,” wraps the album on a celebratory, hopeful note—an exhale after a journey through heartache and growth.
The most defining feature of Bound To Break is its four-part vocal harmony. Each singer has the ability to lead, but it’s when their voices come together that the album finds its soul. Their harmonies carry both the intimacy of a living room performance and the power to fill festival fields. Self-produced by Tim Prottey-Jones, the record feels raw yet polished, capturing the spirit of their live shows with just enough studio sheen to make it immersive.
Instrumentally, the album balances acoustic warmth with modern flourishes. Guitars drive much of the record, but there are plenty of subtle touches—keys, layered percussion, and cinematic swells—that add texture without clutter. The sound is unmistakably country but proudly British, blending Nashville influences with a distinct homegrown character.
What gives Bound To Break its weight is the band’s shared history. Each member arrived with personal baggage—burnouts, breakups, health struggles, and reinventions—and found solace in the group’s chemistry. That authenticity bleeds into every lyric. “Every track is stitched from our real lives,” Poppy explains, and it shows: the record doesn’t feel manufactured, it feels lived-in.
Bound To Break is more than just a debut—it’s a mission statement. With their blend of heartfelt storytelling, powerhouse harmonies, and undeniable chemistry, First Time Flyers have created an album that doesn’t just introduce them, but defines them. From aching ballads to hopeful anthems, it’s a body of work that reflects the mess and beauty of being human.
For UK country fans, this record is a landmark moment. For First Time Flyers, it’s only the beginning.
Score: 9/10 – A heartfelt, harmony-driven debut that announces First Time Flyers as one of the brightest new voices in country music.
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