Sink Below
Indie pop surf rock?/Pop Rock
"Dynamic, bouncy and beautiful, this song can fit into almost any mood you find yourself in. Voodoo Bandits music always seems to make a bad time good and a good time better"
The artist
This ain't our first dalliance with Voodoo Bandits. As we know they are a rhythmic powerhouse from the Isle of Man. A 4 piece bop-bringing, hook-singing outfit that boast absolute anthems. In case you can't tell, we like us some Voodoo Bandits.
The song
'Sink Below' starts off with an ominous and jarring feedback that submits to a gorgeous, reverb soaked clean guitar that sits perfectly above a non-stationary bassline. More elements of guitar come in before leading us to a more fleshed out bridge. A sole crunchy guitar sends you crashing through the door to the first verse. Voodoo Bandits lyrics are always a mix between relatable sentiments and scene painting oddities. The shifting verse moves towards a more direct bridge sends us the message of "listen up, there's no need for your brain to break but for your own sake can you take your head outta the clouds?". Something about the sentiment always bring me back to this tune. The stripped back chorus slides into view with an equally brilliantly message as the verse switching from 3rd person to 1st in a fantastic turn of songwriting. The back half of the chorus is beefed up with full instrumentation. Exit the chorus to a similar passage as the intro with an abrupt "uhhh!". As Ben hates me saying, rinse and repeat the above to find yourself at the wonderfully written chorus again. Differential here is you fall down a well of gorgeous oohs and ahhs that create a devine landscape before leaving you wanting, bereft and willing to buy merchandise. Do that too.
The verdict
This song is easily my 2nd favourite VB song behind Empty Swimming Pool. 'Sink Below' is an absolute textbook example of their songwriting tendencies to make you expect one thing and then give you something much better than you anticipated. Dynamic, bouncy and beautiful, this song can fit into almost any mood you find yourself in. Voodoo Bandits music always seems to make a bad time good and a good time better.
If you like...
As said on the last review if you like the vocals of The Vaccines (but reverbier), the guitar hooks of Delta Saints (but hookier) and the anthemic choruses of Kaiser Cheifs (but cheifier) then you will love Voodoo Bandits.
