Distant Colours

[Repoman]

Well, good to wake up to that on Spotify this morning.

The teaser was something of a well, tease - it’s definitely a big chorus sparse verse formula but done very well with some precision cut manics elements. James’ voice sounds great and the live sounding guitars with string whistle left in really animate the verses. Maybe one chorus too many, like Anthem for a Lost Cause.

Gonna play the hell out of it today. Interesting to find the boredom point. It’s a massive chorus - may have indigestion by this afternoon.

[Phil C]

Hate to say it but on the first listen this has got to be one of their weakest singles in years. Awkward tune, weak lyric, even JDB's vocal isn't very good (his phrasing in the verses doesn't work for me). Generally speaking when songwriters start relying on phrases like 'break my heart a thousand times' and 'a broken promise for the soul' they're in trouble, and shoving a string section over the chorus doesn't hide it. Hopefully it'll either get better on repeated listening or will turn out to be the album's 'Autumnsong' and the rest of the album will be better than the single.

[Routine Builder]

Not great but nor does it sound like the band sailing on autopilot so I don't hate it. Feels like a b-side given a full single production. I have a feeling it might sound a bit more powerful live.

[blackflower]

I love it. It has a genuine warmth to it. It feels instantly familiar, which may mean it's not too adventurous, but there's nothing wrong with the Manics making songs that sound like the Manics!

My only criticism would be that, as with International Blue, they could have done something more interesting between the second and final choruses. But that's a nitpick. Both these new songs make me more excited to see them live than I have been since about 2004

[UEF]

Here’s the video: https://youtu.be/7RZzxbZ6WWY

[Dancing Kirby]

I no longer want to be an enabler.

Preorder cancelled.

[Tim]

It’s an interesting exercise coming here after listening to a new track, really quite enjoying it after 2 listens and reading silly comments like this...

Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby

I no longer want to be an enabler.

Preorder cancelled.

Seriously? Get over yourself.

[Routine Builder]

Was I wrong in thinking that "Preorder Cancelled" and "I don't want to be an enabler" were the b-sides for this single?

[someone, somewhere, soon]

anyone else getting Together in Electric Dreams stuck in their head after hearing this?

[Oldland Manic]

Originally Posted by someone, somewhere, soon

anyone else getting Together in Electric Dreams stuck in their head after hearing this?

A little bit, yes. See what you mean!!

[UEF]

Originally Posted by someone, somewhere, soon

anyone else getting Together in Electric Dreams stuck in their head after hearing this?

For me, it's "By The Rivers Of Babylon", especially in the chorus/guitar

[everlasting]

Originally Posted by UEF

For me, it's "By The Rivers Of Babylon", especially in the chorus/guitar

You know, since I read your comment I can't help but sing that in my head when I listen to the new Manics track!

[dolphin]

It's OK although a bit 'Manics attempt to get a hit' by numbers. It sounds exactly what you would expect it to be like and the lyrics are full of generic phrases and fail to give the song any sort of unique character.

Futurology had a generic-sounding lead single but turned out to be a great album so I hope this is the same.

[hummingbird]

I like the video too. Pre-order not cancelled

[Flint]

It's pleasant but both singles seem to heading a bit too backwards towards SATT/PFAYM tones than I was hoping for after RTF/Futurology.

Struggling to really say much more about this after three listens.