It’s certainly not our first rodeo with about-faces. In fact, the Leeds-based rockers have been steadily growing over the past few years, conquering a bunch of tastemakers, including BBC Radio 1 and ITV, among others. They have also been busy on the live front, with recent shows booked for their hometown, Manchester and London. Yeah, they are exploring all the key UK cities, where we are confident there’s a substantial audience for them. It’s easy to understand why: their sharp and controlled indie-rock character is welcoming and eclectic, adapting well to a pop audience, too.
‘Not Been Back’ is the perfect evidence of that. Built on kaleidoscopic instrumental settings, the piece also conveys a great deal of melancholic and nostalgic energy, making for a listening experience that’s vibrant and euphoric, yet nuanced and reflective. That’s where about-faces particularly excel: delivering meaningful lyricism in a nonchalant sonic livery. Laced with dark tones and new wave references, ‘Not Been Back’ delves into memories of a Leeds council estate, packed with painful episodes concerning “religious references, drug misuse and lingering tension”.
Produced by Ali Chant (known for his work with Yard Act, PJ Harvey, and Soccer Mommy), the record follows up from previous effort ‘Too Old For Fun’. Overall, we can trace the band trajectory as rather eclectic, constantly oscillating between vintage synths and rebellious, fuzzy guitars – all then distilled through North England’s raw rock flair.
Recommended! Discover ‘Not Been Back’ on Spotify:
