The keen reader might remember Fringe Frontier from an article we shared earlier this year, praising ‘Pulling Away’ as “fuzzy, nostalgic guitar riffs and steady, punchy drums, earthy, relatable vocals”, all qualities that we find time and time again in the Floridian outfit’s artistic work. Gearing up for their forthcoming album ‘Criminal Hour’, Fringe Frontier has recently unveiled another piece of the puzzle, the striking and gritty piece ‘City of Dreams’.
In it, we meet a version of Fringe Frontier that’s rowdy and incredibly wholesome, with their usual lo-fi crunchiness layered on top of nostalgic arrangements and anthemic vocals. The record’s sonic character is especially timeless, not relying on modern formulas or polished tools, instead finding a heartwarming refuge in fierce, bold indie rock goodness.
Lyrically, ‘City of Dreams’ feels quite relatable and evocative. It never names a specific city, but judging by its lyricism, we confidently believe that city to be New York. Packed with nostalgia and quaint regret, the song recounts a busking and hustling experience in the Big Apple, fighting for dreams and hopes. Eventually, such an effort comes to an end: “Tired, stooped, I stand beneath an arthritic tree / In the end this place was too much for me / Tourist now stuck between midtown and memory / I walk the line between what will and will never be.”
Recommended! Discover ‘City of Dreams’ on Spotify:
