Born out of Covid solitude, Rats-Tails was formed by singer-songwriter Courtney McMahon and guitarist Chris Bull. Following last year’s debut single ‘Spine’, the ‘dream-rock’ band has already gained momentum and drawn in crowds at renowned London venues like The Windmill and the George Tavern, as well as supporting the likes of Tapir! and Honeyglaze.
Playfully entitled ‘Coke in the 70s‘, their latest single is accompanied by a video described by the band as “Top of the Pops meets David Lynch” – an accurate description as the stage scene brought to mind Mulholland Drive.
The track opens with ethereal swirls of guitar awash with shimmering cymbals, creating an eclectic blend of ’90s indie, shoegaze, and ’70s psychedelic rock. Drawing creative influence from bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and My Bloody Valentine, as well as the compositions of Ennio Morricone, the song oozes a majestic cinematic quality.
McMahon’s velvety vocals take the spotlight in the more stripped-back verses as the melody draws you in, accompanied by relaxed guitar chops. The chorus, in contrast, is far more maximalist, featuring a lush soundscape of fuzzy, atmospheric guitars and more crashing cymbals. I’m one for a great outro, and Rats-Tails certainly deliver on this; blending delicate hispanic-sounding classical guitar, accompanied by harmonies and a gentle drum beat.
The lyrics deliver random bursts of imagery, with phrases like “TV license, Kanye West” but are personal to McMahon who has said that the track “recounts a tale of music after parties, covid delirium and grieving a family member”, whilst also noting “Coke in the 70s is a vignette of a very unlucky period in my life, yet it’s one of my favourite songs to play live”. This interplay between the upbeat and playful nature of the song and the darker subject matter offers a beautiful poignancy, and is a real strength of this sparkling track.
Catch this single and more of what this exciting new band has to offer at their launch party at The George Tavern on the 14th October.
Ella Patenall
@ella_patenall
Photo Credit: Diego Hernandez
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