Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Camens – Cynical (2024)

From the bright indie-pop of their 2017 debut single ‘Boys Will Stray’ to the Britpop-infused ‘Time Is Precious’, the much darker indie-rock ‘Poltergeist’ and ‘Jacket Weather’ to pop-rock tinged ‘On The Walk From The Picturehouse’, UK-based Camens are pure, vibrating indie from top to toe. Many bands make impressions on our ears, but Camens is one of the more intriguing in their alternative appeal. From bright lights to dark depths, the group’s sound captivates listeners in a rise-and-fall of music draped in tender emotion. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Cynical’.

A constant well of melodic evolution, Camens saunter through various flavours of indie in their discography; however, a deeper alternative sound seems to radiate from more recent offerings. Following the well-received single ‘On The Walk From The Picturehouse’, ‘Cynical’ surges with a stronger alternative rock tone tossing listeners from pillar to post in its powerful tone. Crashing drums match scorching guitars bound by a silvery 90s rock wrapper. However, just as strong alt-rock marches forward, drips of indie-rock shimmer beneath with off-kilter grittiness.  

The fusion of heart-pounding instruments twirls you about in a tumultuous sonic whirlpool hardly giving you a chance to breathe. Yet, it is the clinging of the lead vocals that truly sends shivers down your spine. Breathless and vulnerable but oozing a confident energy, ‘Cynical’ is enigmatic with a haunting prowess.

Yes, the rush of music is overwhelming, but it is the lyricism that adds profoundness to the single. Capturing the confusion behind a “love fizzled out”, ‘Cynical’ asks those difficult questions we keep inside instead of screaming aloud. Why has the love faded? Why did conversation dwindle? What happened…seriously, what happened? The typical break-up song, ‘Cynical’ was derived from a broken heart; however, the crash of sonic chaos captures the desire to scream in pain lurking beneath a cool exterior.

As time has passed, Camens have shown a sophisticated growth in their sound and style, but a raw innocence remains rooted in ‘Cynical’. It’s this mastery of placing brash grittiness within a mature arrangement that shows Camens innovation and maturity.


Find out more about Camens on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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