I stare out the window while the sweet, sweet tones of Runners by Casual Fan blast into my world; a band that I can only describe as flush with facial hair. Honestly, the group are vibrant with beards. What a hairy situation. Sorry. Runners is a slower track, equipping a softer singing voice that I would liken to an early 2010s folk singer, and it certainly doesn’t spare the lo-fi guitar riffs. I’m still staring out the window, listening to this reflective song while clouds pass overhead, promising a fresh spell of rain.
There’s a beautiful combination of vocals on Runners; making the song flow like a river from verse to verse, evoking a feeling similar to when you’re walking around an art gallery. It’s like one thought strolling into the next (or running – see what I did there?). These spacey voices almost certainly deserve a loudspeaker permanently attached to them; the sheer depth they are mixed with is astounding, and I feel like the lyrics never stop cradling you; perfectly complimented by the guitar and drums.
Just to go back to the lo-fi guitar; I cannot overemphasise how gorgeous it is, plain and simple. The whole thing comes together like a delicious meal, creating an instantly memorable tune. Something I love about Runners is that the verses aren’t too busy or overly crowded with instrumentation that feels obligatory or tacked on; it’s just a laid back guitar with light drums, which works wonderfully. Casual Fan make sure not to outstay their welcome, only leaving you wanting more with a song that doesn’t eclipse five minutes but fits a tonne of beautiful passages in between.
In conclusion, there are absolutely no bad vibes to be found on Casual Fan’s latest effort. I enjoyed this one, and I think you will too. Runners is out now. Have a listen below.
