aaamusic | On 03, Aug 2010

Has emo stopped being a dirty word yet? Because in the best possible way, These Furrows do come across as being at least in part inspired by not only Bloc Party but also the recent new wave of emo music, with high-pitched vocals and melancholy guitars, not to mention the heart-on-sleeve lyrics contained in their new single ‘Without Manner’.

Starting with an angelic guitar melody and handclaps before slipping into a clattering drum beat and warm bassline backing up some very, very indie rock vocals, which hint at the chorus style almost instantly. It’s an incredibly bittersweet track, pounded into rock form by a stop-start instrumental and heavy cymbal abuse, whereas the rest is a strongly indie-flavoured affair with melodic guitars that interweave and chime together prettily, solid and simple bass, and some intelligent drumming. In fact, the lead guitar, with its melodic flutters and emotional playing, seems to be more the star of the show than the vocals at times, unless you count the stripped-down chorus repeat, where the vocals come into their brittle yet passionate element.

The lyrics and structure do get a little trite and generic at times, but what These Furrows have made is a highly accessible indie rock track that is sweet without getting too overbearing. I wouldn’t announce a breakthrough here, but if you’re looking for a cut of sugared melancholy to enjoy, you’d feel more than satisfied with this appealing track.

Author: Katie H-Halinski