19/05/20
Words | Joel Fossard-Jones
@joel.effjay
2020 has been an undeniably unexpected and difficult time for us all. I for one, have found myself looking toward better, carefree times for reassurance, and find that I'm often reminiscing over carefree summers spent with friends in the sun, something that seems impossible within our current situation. Sorrell's new single reminds us that despite our feelings of helplessness, there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel.Â
Freefall, the sophomore single from Leicester's indie rock dream poppers, sees them solidifying their aesthetic. Quickly following their March release, Lampshade, a reverb-ridden, hazy, guitar driven track, Freefall follows a similar formula, whilst approaching its subject matter in a mature and hopeful way. The instrumentals are euphoric, dreamy, and for me, conjured up memories of hours listening to 2010s indie rock acts. In fact, the track walks the line between the influence of now indie rock legend Mac Demarco, who's hazy production and carefree attitude has influenced the music of so many, and the more traditional indie rock formula of bands like Two Door Cinema Club and most notably, that of Real Estate, clearly an influence on Sorrell and their music.Â
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In terms of production, the track retains a beautiful lo-if aesthetic, whilst simultaneously wrapping its listeners in a blanket of twinkly guitars, aided by Dylan Lee's soft spoken delivery, reminiscent of that of Two Door Cinema Club's Alex Trimble. As the track ensues, Lee's delivery becomes more certain and desperate by the 2nd verse as he sings "But time is still to give when life comes crowding in", solidifying its themes of anxiety and breaking away from the thoughts that our head conjures up (wonderfully depicted in the single's minimalist artwork), making Freefall all the more significant at this time of uncertainty.
The lyrics that stood out to me the most on the track, "empty hours to fill- The days that fall into chaos without your help", as dark and worrying as they are, feel oddly reassuring at this moment in time, to know that our inevitable loneliness is a shared experience, perhaps acting as a reminder to reach out and reconnect with friends. Following its themes of hopefulness, the track reaches an unexpected climax and subsequent outro which seemingly wrestles with the previous themes of anxiety, and, through crashing drums, rising bass guitar and distorted guitars, thumping in harmony, wins in promising a better future. Paired with the chorus's catchy hook, the song, in my opinion, is anthemic for a generation of such uncertainty.Â
Sorrell's new single reminds us that despite our feelings of helplessness, there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel.
We, as an audience, are truly "falling through the atmosphere" of the wonderfully warm aesthetic that Sorrell create on Freefall, however I hope to see Sorrell stretch their musical capabilities further in subsequent releases and to break away from their influences in discovering their own unique sound. In dealing with themes of anxiety, their track reminds us to reach out to people who are feeling low, and for those who are struggling, to talk to friends and family as much as possible, particularly in the light of the pandemic and mental health awareness week. Fans of indie rock, indie pop and dream-pop will certainly appreciate Sorrell's newest release, which succeeds in depicting 'the sound of summer', and for me, the song was certainly a pleasant throwback to youth and to easier times, but looking forward and attempting to try something new and dangerous is often equally important, and I urge this in all musicians, new and old.Â
'Freefall' the new single from Sorrell out now on all major streaming platforms
@sorrelltheband
This track was produced by Anthony Sotelo @ Liquid Tone
Click the link for the website where you can view his portfolio of recordings on the projects tab and access info.
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Anthony says "I've been recording bands in Leicester since 2013. Independent production, I record and mix. I live track all music out of choice in order to capture the organic performance of each artist and take a natural/raw approach in favour of preserving the band's true sound when they're playing together."
