A Guiding “Blue Star”: Korine releases their fifth album ‘A Flame In The Dark’

Philly’s thundering synthpop duo Korine did it again: they produced an extraordinary new album called A Flame In The Dark and they chose Johnny Brenda’s for an otherworldly release show, tightly packed with fans.

“Our music is very emotional so I think it’s important to be able to convey that,” the band’s Trey Frye said, reflecting on the show’s setting. “As far as Philly venues that are this size, I think [Johnny Brenda’s] is the best one in terms of location, what it offers — visuals, aesthetic, the sound. We’ve always had a great time working with the sound people here.”

Before the show, Frye and bandmate Morgy Ramone chatted in the JBs green room about the show, and about the new album, A Flame In The Dark, released March 28th by Born Losers Records – a record the band says is its favorite to date. Covertly exchanging glances and big smiles, Korine was giddy, dare I say gleeful, during their performance. Their lighting rig onstage still flashed moody blue with an occasional stripe of orange that flickered subtly, but the energy was at a different level, and it’s clear that A Flame In The Dark hits different for the duo than its predecessor Tear.

Recording the albums looked different from one another, too. The South Philly darkwave duo tells me they dialed in on Flame while recording in Frye’s home studio.

“We really just worked super hard on it for like one month,” Ramone said. “We wanted it to be an encapsulation of that moment. It’s better sometimes to have more of a snapshot of where you’re at right then rather than collecting songs from a few years ago then sticking them on an album.” Ramone sees the approach as more cohesive, and fully fleshed out.

Frye continued, “A lot of this album felt pretty natural. I think our last record we were kind of like intentionally trying to stretch the limits of what we can get away with and retain our fans and retain what it is that makes Korine Korine, but with this album it’s more like flexing what we know we’re good at, you know?”

Onstage, Korine leaned into the big sonic blasts, powerful gusts of Morgy’s vocals, and fantastical darkwave synth melodies. Each time Frye triggered the next transition or drop you felt it in your chest.

Projected onto the curtain behind Korine was the chalk-like outline of a blue star that looked originally hand drawn. The crowd of course recognized it from the A Flame In The Dark cover art and track “Blue Star.” Tight-lipped but not as aloof as this Philly dark pop duo is known to be, Korine opened up in the green room.

“It’s interesting to have albums out, older albums of ours,” Frye said, teasingly adding “I hear lore. People are kind of like ‘is that true?’”

“I don’t really like to, kind of give an exact meaning,” Ramone said. “People are thinking about it, rather than being like ‘no, that’s not what it’s about, because they said it on this interview.’”

Ramone then shared more about one of many sources they tapped into for the music and album art :  the phenomenon of a red dwarf turning bright blue before it explodes and dissipates into the black void of outer space. That explanation felt right for A Flame In The Dark and its pseudo title track “Blue Star”, which Korine also opened their set with. (They also quietly released a music video for “Blue Star” this past Friday.)

The show featured openers and labelmates Johnny Dynamite and Catherine Moan as well, but from the beginning of Korine’s set, my whole body was pressed up against the stage, front and center. DJ Baby Berlin was spinning new wave hits while the crowd danced and sang to each other. Then Ramone and Frye emerged and climbed the few stairs to the stage. Suddenly it was like the room was holding their breath and slowly pressing forward even closer throughout.

The A Flame In The Dark album release show behind them, Korine left the next day for the 28-date tour all across North America with Johnny Dynamite. (In addition to supporting the Philly show, Catherine Moan will also join the tour in New York and Los Angeles.) Ramone and Frye shrugged off the intensity of a tight tour like this. Morgy kept it to brass tacks: “All we have to worry about is playing the show and getting coffee or whatever.”

“It’s still very weird to be a band for long enough to have a catalog and to have people that know you from the beginning,” reflects Frye. “When you first start you’re fresh and like oh I’ll get on whatever show possible. Then options open up and you can start to make your own decisions. You know then you’re just old.”