Flame – Naive
Alt Prog-Gaze From Edinburgh
Constructing an alternative folk melody over their rock foundations, Flame has dropped ‘Naive’, the latest single from this rising Edinburgh five-piece.
@bluekid Media
It sets up a beautiful juxtaposition of music and meaning: a bright, high-energy summer anthem backed by poignant lyrics. The track disguises emotional weight beneath an irresistibly vibrant exterior. Rather than allowing one element to overpower the other, Flame lets the tension between sound and subject fester, elevating the experience tenfold.
It's this contrast that gives Naive its greatest strength. The band's eclectic influences are impossible to ignore, but they never feel forced. Grunge grit bleeds naturally into shimmering shoegaze textures, while flashes of progressive ambition and funky grooves keep the arrangement dynamic without sacrificing cohesion. There’s a sincerity to the vocal performance that really anchors the track, ensuring the emotional core remains front and centre amid the swelling instrumentation. As the arrangement grows in scale, the performance retains an intimacy that makes the song all the more impactful.
Edinburgh-based alt prog-gaze act Flame threads grunge, shoegaze, folk and funk into something restless and difficult to look away from. BBC Introducing Scotland featured, in under a year, they've already lit up many stages, including Sneaky Pete's, King Tut's, The Hug & Pint, and Mash House. With lead single "Naive" dropping on 10/07/26, the band are gearing up for an exciting run of projects and live shows in 2026 - including a performance at Party at the Palace on 09/08/26 and a headline slot at King Tut’s SN on 13/08/26 - ahead of their debut Live EP, out August 2026.
For fans of Porcupine Tree, Jeff Buckley, The Cranberries, Radiohead, Blind Melon, Alice Phoebe Lou, Wednesday.
Review written by Liv
Fuelled by a lifelong passion for heavy music, I've spent years immersed in the metal scene as both a journalist and live music photographer. From sweaty club shows to major festivals, I've interviewed musicians, reviewed albums and gigs, photographed legends and documented the raw energy that defines local music scenes and artists alike.