Ah, thirty. Everyone told me it was an age I’d eventually reach, but I never fully believed them. Thirty seems so far fetched and fabricated that when it hits, oh boy, it hits. Please indulge my self-pity as it perfectly sums up Glass Violet’s new single, Clockwork; an indie song about the moment you become aware that time is slowly ticking by. And yet, it is not a sad affair. It’s reflective, it’s anthemic, and it ensures that Glass Violet are set for stadium glory.
As old souls trapped in a young band, the Bristol-based lads are breathing new life into a nostalgic sound. Building on their previous efforts, Clockwork is a dramatic step up in production. The tone is considerably larger, which adds to the prolific nature and equates to a complete and absorbing experience.
Aptly, the track begins with a ticking clock that acts as a count in and perfectly brings attention to the theme of the song. By the time you realise it, it’s gone, and you are welcomed with an explosive yet restrained drum beat and a piano reminiscent of chiming bells. Everything kicks off from there, with a lead guitar line destined to be sung back by audiences. The melodramatic break introduces fragility with acoustic guitar, piano melodies and rumbling bass. This creates a dense and textured bed for the vocals to lie in; a slightly distorted, Kasabian-esque delivery that comments on the sudden realisation of time. Finally, Clockwork grows and develops into a biblical chorus. Headphones can barely contain as it swarms around, creating a wall of sound you can’t help but jump to in your kitchen.
Glass Violet are on their way to Knebworth. This latest effort is an electrifying piece of Britpop that, while demonstrating the blueprint of the genre, adds its own unique, modern twist of anthemic and thought-provoking imagery. Damn, I’m thirty. “It’s like clockwork, day by day”.
