At the age of sixteen, I was somewhat mischievous. I would cause havoc around the small industrial town of Longridge by pushing bins over, robbing milk glasses, and kicking cones. All part of being a juvenile delinquent in a wasteland of minimal opportunities. Then, maturity struck, and I had the chance to study in college, a blessing I took with both grubby hands. Every day, I would take the hour-long bus journey to learn about the ins and outs of the media industry. On one occasion, I stole my stepfather’s iPod to make the trip less monotonous and was introduced to the world of indie; the Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Hot Chip, Bloc Party, all artists I revered and idolised. I had never related to a genre before, but the mid-2000s were unique. From the haircut right down to the way you dressed, you would recognise an indie head across the road. Unfortunately, the scene eventually diminished. Maybe the market became oversaturated, or the audience grew older and wiser. One thing is for sure; I will always remember that time in my life.
Nowadays, aged twenty-eight, I hardly ever listen to indie. If I do, it’s to reminisce. Punk is now a prominent feature on my Spotify playlists, that or rap. Then I played Tetsuo by Blue River and was introduced to a whole new environment of brash vocals and aggressive tones. This isn’t 2000s indie; this is new and fresh. Based in Cornwall, you can feel the waves crash against the drums, and the surfy guitar riffs as you press your ear against a vacant shell. A modern take on globals issues, this isn’t music about the death of a working-class society, this is a tune about global warming and the impact it will have on a future generation. It’s refreshing to hear indie take on a new perspective. Less insular, more activist. The community spirit is still there, kicking and screaming.
Tetsuo is an angsty song packed full of vigour, spirit and courage. This four-piece band is shouting from the tip of Land’s End to the end of the world, hoping someone will listen. Well, this particular reviewer is on the edge of his seat, and can’t wait to hear more.
A song for the many, not the few, listen to Tetsuo by Blue River now on Independent Music News.