So I’m gonna start this review by saying that VALA’s new single ‘Mirror’ isn’t, on the face of it, my sort of thing at all. My friend remarked, as I was saying quite how good it was, “but Frank this sort of indie-ish/poppy rock isn’t usually the sort of thing you usually like” and he’s right it isn’t. But I do like this, I like it a lot.
The main reason I like it is that after an indie-rock intro it throws us into classic pop territory – there is a tune (and I like a song with a tune) that just worms its way into your head, there are hooks galore, and there are these wonderfully gloriously soaring vocals. And those hooks made me smile, they made me smile hugely. And there is this bit where the vocals get all megaphone-ish and it’s slowed way down, and then it winds itself into a glorious wonderful anthem like epic ending.
And it does that thing I really like – you can sit and listen to it, you should you know there is some lovely stuff going on or you can dance to it, it’s bouncy. OK so you might have a bit of problem with the slow bit but it’s possible, I know I managed to.
And it does this classic pop thing while maintaining a rock feel, that’s clever. There are loud guitars, there is at times a riff but never does this song lose its classic pop sensibility. It’s in those vocals, it’s in the tune. It’s actually in the extremely well played music, and the band certainly know how to play.
So I like it, but will you? Well if you like indie-rock, you will. If you like a classic pop song, you will. And if you love well constructed music, played extremely well, you will. It’s lovely stuff.
‘Mirror’ is available on all major platforms.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1LJgKLnrSI9PyDBvnDfzmi?si=cdopvepmT2SpurwLVJi8IQ
The info
VALA hail from Manchester although they are frequent visitors to Yorkshire and their drummer is from Leeds.
VALA are:
Joe Knowles – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Jebose Radcliffe – Bass, Backing Vocals
Jesus – Guitar, Synthesiser
Matt Hill – Drums, Backing Vocals
http://www.valaband.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/ValaManchester/
https://www.instagram.com/valamanchester/?hl=en
