Review of Lonely The Brave's 'Radar'

Ahead of the release of their second album, Things Will Matter, UK rockers Lonely The Brave have released their latest single Radar. Fans of this group will not be disappointed, as the sound closely resembles their previous album, apart from the indistinct/fuzzy vocal line.

Set in a major key, the overall mood of this track comes off as upbeat and optimistic. It abruptly begins with driving rhythm guitar, bass and drums, soon followed by the characteristic and melodious vocal styling of David Jakes, accompanied by the interplay of second guitarist Ross Smithwick. When moving from the verses to chorus, there’s a distinct variation of rhythm providing an element of introspection.

It’s a catchy and likeable track, however the lyrics are not clearly enunciated, causing the listener to fill in the gaps and add their own interpretation of the narrative. Perhaps this anthem of the unknown is an intentional device to attract closer and repeated listening, which most people probably wouldn’t object to considering how immersive and compelling the entire arrangement is. In other words, the musical production is of a high standard.

Similar to their other music videos (apart from Black Mire), there’s no sign of any band members – instead the viewer is lead on a fast paced, yet suspenseful journey, which appears to take place several decades ago. The music video’s aesthetic and narrative is reminiscent of a cross between Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom and an episode of Doctor Who or The X Files as the scenes cut between dark muted blues and warm glowing yellows. Is it about childhood memories, father-son relationships, nightmares or longing for adventure? Who knows…? Maybe it’s a combination of them all. One thing for sure though is that this child is obsessed with the search for aliens.

Right from the get go, the music is bold and repetitive, making the listener feel as though they’re caught in a loop unable to break free until the last second, where someone “cuts the power” and they’re left in the dark wanting more.


This review was first published on 15 march 2016 for Amnplify.

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