Small Black Arrows – The British Museum (2024)
Eclectic, innovative, experimental – all these words can describe the duo Small Black Arrows; however, I believe they are far more than that. A pioneer in the UK music industry, Small Black Arrows leads the way for unorthodox musical stylings drawing together sounds that might collide but simultaneously complement; a passionate eccentricity filled with profound and complex themes caught in warm-hearted, relatable tunes. From folk and trip-hop to rock, opera (yes, opera), pop and RnB, Small Black Arrows is unlike anything that came before and everything yet to come.
The brainchild of vocalist Luke Bailey and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Hanley, the pair is one of those intriguing acts that rose like a phoenix from the pandemic lockdowns. Combining the uncertainty of lockdowns with their multiple discipline backgrounds in the arts, Small Black Arrows is a labour of love, a passionate undertaking, and the product of “their urban, working-class roots.” The latest single ‘The British Museum’ reinforces “the cautionary tale exploration of love, mental illness and political manipulation.”
Following the well-received EP ONE, ‘The British Museum’ is the title track of Small Black Arrows’ upcoming LP; and as with ONE, each sound is something to experience instead of merely heard. Opening with a classic pop sound, the pair draw you in with big smiles, and then shit gets real (pardon my language). A rush of rock hits you from one side as you slip into a head-spinning twirl of bright indie-pop; but just as you grab hold of an anchor in the whirlpool, pop-rock and funk sweep across lifting you into a hard-hitting crash of sound. Heading down a rollercoaster, rocking on an earthquake, gasping for breath but loving the insanity, ‘The British Museum’ is a blast of chaotic madness.
The melody can incite raw passion and emotional vulnerability, but it is the alignment of the profound lyricism that truly packs the punch. Dashing aside the paint-by-numbers perspective of society, ‘The British Museum’ is lyrically, “…a state of the nation type song about how we’re being mugged off by our government and in truth have been condition to accept it since the Empire…it goes through a lot of stages and conversely ends on this rousing celebratory outro which belies the more sinister truth flowing beneath…”
In addition to the single, Small Black Arrows released an official music video for ‘The British Museum’. You can view the video below or on the band’s YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Small Black Arrows on their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more indie-rock tunes on The Other Side Reviews Indie Rock playlist:
