Ostensibly a song about nostalgia, hindsight, adoration, futility and reverence, “Songs About The Future” – the new single from My Best Unbeaten Brother – actually casts a longing look backwards whilst being firmly rooted in the present.
At almost six minutes in length, it feels sprawling but at the same time kind of meditative and mantra-like. Built around an introspective analysis of our listening habits and how and what and why the music that matters to us does, it is a song made for musos. Having said that, there is also a self-deprecating almost belittling (and, it must be said, very English) element to the track that we have noticed is a common thread in songs by the band.
They’ve been releasing a track each month this year and have compelled us with their wonky indie reminiscent of bands like Los Campesinos!, Art Brut and Pavement and this new track is no exception. As Ben from the band looks over “blokes that won’t go home and blokes that can’t go home” and talks about playing the same CDs for 30 years he builds worlds around you with his words, ably assisted his brother Adam on drums and Duncan Perry providing additional guitars.
Musically, this tune seems to also branch out into The National-style epic indie and, as it develops, breathes and blossoms, it seems to grow into itself, becoming bigger, bolder and more buoyant before confidently climaxing satisfyingly after the anthemic, instantly-iconic last lines: “And this is my music / and it makes me proud / and these are my people and this is my crowd / and they say they can break you again and again / if life is a radio turn it up to ten.”
Made up of ex-members of Nosferatu D2 and Superman Revenge Squad, My Best Unbeaten Brother are carving out a sonic identify all their own.
Take a listen to “Songs About The Future” below.
Written by Black Rainbow Collective
