Seatbelts spout the gospel of punk rock amid jangly guitars, organ and knowing vox on "Black Spring"

AP Track Review

Black Spring by Seatbelts, the new project from James Madden and Ryan Murphy of Liverpool indie pop quartet, Hooton Tennis Club, feels from the onset like mid 80's indie fair (at least to me). It might be the jangly guitar rhythms, the snap of the downbeat, the belly keys and organ and the vox that feel 'knowing' like there is more to sing about than relationships, like spouting the gospel of punk rock. As I listened for the first time, bands like R.E.M, The Smiths, The Replacements and Guadalcanal Diary come to mind. I absolutely love James Madden's vocal presence here... utterly engaging.

Produced by the king of indie - Edwyn Collins and lyrically inspired by the writings of Henry Miller, the track explores the author's feeling of 'great change'"

Seatbelts are based out of Liverpool and are James Madden, Ryan Murphy, Abigail Woods and Alex Quinn.

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Robb Donker



THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

The track is an upbeat, head spinning introduction to the new project from James Madden and Ryan Murphy of Liverpool indie pop quartet, Hooton Tennis Club.

Written earlier this year, and recorded in the Scottish Highlands and produced by the king of indie - Edwyn Collins - 'Black Spring' is the band's first single to be released since 'Spanish Songs' from their latest EP 'Please Slow Down'. This track is also the first of many to be released from a larger collection, cut during a summer session in Edwyn's studio.

Lyrically inspired by the writings of Henry Miller, the track explores the author's feeling of 'great change', and the notion of a black spring forming. A dream or a nightmare? When your friends become Uber drivers, Deliveroo drop-ships, and investment bankers, your family see more of you on Instagram, and Brexit promises a 'progress' we have yet to clearly define. What are our societal duties, and are they for the better?