By Tilsen Mulalley
I’ve often said that I miss the era of Indie Pop circa 2010-2015. The scene was dominated by bright guitars, pounding basslines, and infectiously ethereal vocals. Lyrics, often sardonic, were delivered with an energy that masked their grave nature until examined thoroughly. It was a sound for the millennial youth and reflected the coexistence of the generation's general optimism and existential dread. Now, more than a decade after the height of the indie-pop scene, the echoes of its influence remain in groups like the East London duo Good Neighbours.
On January 24th, they released their latest single, “Ripple,” which delivers a jangly dose of this exact nostalgia straight to the listener’s ears. Upbeat and firmly groovy, the toe-tapping nature of the track’s composition belies tender lyrics addressing grief and how hard it can be to pull yourself out of its grasp.
“Ripple was written about a close friend going through grief. They felt overwhelmed by the feeling and would sink into themselves,” the duo revealed in a press release for the new single.
“Ripple” is accompanied by the duo’s first official music video, directed by Alex Lockett. The narrative follows younger versions of Good Neighbours members Scott Verrill and Oli Fox. In the video, the young facsimiles are tasked with retrieving a brick from the bottom of an indoor pool at swimming practice. According to Lockett, the video is a metaphor for the challenges that men face when submerged in grief and depression.
“It’s about overcoming life’s challenges together, with the right support from those around us,” Lockett said in a press release.
“Ripple’s” driven, simple beat is infectious, and near impossible to resist shimmying your shoulders to. Both shiny and lo-fi, the track pairs well with its stylishly shot video, which utilizes a washed-out palette peppered with patches of eye-catching color. The entire package is an homage to the indie pop kids of yore. The final result is a competent, catchy throwback, tweaked here and there to keep it from going stale.
“Ripple” feels like a summer song, and I predict it will grace many night drive playlists as we approach warmer days.
Good Neighbours is currently supporting Foster the People on the North American leg of their Paradise State of Mind tour.
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