Wings Of Desire is the new project from Chloe Little and James Taylor, formerly of INHEAVEN, a body of work that peels back the layers of modern life, heavily referencing the mid-90s spiritual awakening to sublime effect.

There’s a feeling of constancy in the modern age; constantly moving, a mind that is constantly stimulated with technology and Wings Of Desire answers this with the question’ why?’ at a time where humanity is going through a collective year of reflection.

My favourite of three singles released to date, ‘Runnin’, opens and closes with audio from an interview with Dorian Corey from 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning: “Everybody wants to leave something behind them, some impression, some mark upon the world. And then you think, you’ve left a mark on the world if you just get through it and a few people remember your name. Then you’ve left a mark. You don’t have to bend the world. I think it’s better just to enjoy it. Pay your dues and enjoy it.” 

 

 

This pretty much sums up the band’s message. ‘Wings Of Desire’ cite Noam Chomsky’s ‘Manufacturing Consent’ as an influence. Chomsky recognised that an uneven distribution of power and wealth had led to a manipulation of the media, and thus manipulation of human consciousness itself, that favoured an elite ruling class.

And Wings Of Desire is particularly interesting because it offers all of this broad context on a bed of euphoria. Whilst questioning this reality we find ourselves in, their music is also a celebration of what it really means to be human. It would perfectly soundtrack the cult documentary ‘Wild Wild Country’ about Bhagwan Shree Ranjneesh’s move to the US in the 90’s to build a utopian society, which ended as more of a ‘paradise lost’.

I loved INHEAVEN and after some time away travelling, this soul-searching new venture is an exciting call to action for Gen-Z; to be present and enjoy life because it is short.