
Keyside – Turn Back the Time
Similar artists: The Coral, The La’s, Doves, The Smiths, The Police
Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Dream Pop
There are plenty of heavily wounded dreamers out there. Most of them must appear pretty pitiful to the untrained eye. You look at them and notice shabby clothes, the fact that they have no money and, most of the time, a few terrible vices that they have to nurture every few hours. But they’re just folks who thought that life could be so much more than what was apparent. They just never found enough of a reason to stop their search.
Folks writing songs while strumming acoustic guitars are those kinds of dreamers. Will they end up the same way? Well, the world ain’t ready to do them the same kinds of favours or cut them the same slack it did in the past. But it will listen to their songs and even let itself be charmed. That might not be the answer to all of the searches, but it’s certainly something.
Keyside’s “Turn Back Time” is an aptly titled song, one that promises a look back at some of the greatest neo-hippie guitar-pop bands that England ever produced. The guitars ring out sweetly, the melodies are hummable, and there’s an unidentified murmur over all of this. It might bring to mind The La’s. For many listeners, that is pure magic. And, when you consider that, Keyside may just be among those who have searched and found what they were looking for.
Pure Intruders – Pyramid Scheme
Similar artists: St. Vincent, Alvvays, Japanese Breakfast
Genre: Nu-disco, Indie Pop
Every pop and rock band eventually tries to make a dance record. Even hard-rock groups with songs featuring lyrics about nuclear apocalypse and hating your parents. It’s only natural that they would. Dance songs make people feel good and connected to each other. Besides that, the origin of all pop and rock comes from dance music. If nobody had bothered moving to the rhythm of 50s songs, we would have none of the pop music industry that we have today.
But finding a bass player who can really make their lines move, and the people along with them is not easy. Finding a drummer who can really shake a groove back and forth is a rare find as well. Sure, every drummer and bass player knows a bit of what that entails. But it’s a case similar to the Lit teacher who has started work on a novel. There are plenty of those, but few actually make anything of it.
Pure Intruders’ “Pyramid Scheme” is the work of what is at heart, an indie-rock band that really wants people to take on their stories while they are swayed up in the rhythm of the music. The production work brings to mind the best and most tasteful aspects of glorious 70s music. Their retro elements are knowingly added to create the impression that this is not merely disposable modern pop music meant to easily be forgotten. And, regardless of your willingness to dance with strangers, it’s hard not to feel a bit of inner warmth when hearing this.