Dream of a Man in a Top Hat – The Bad Side (2023)
Take two dashing gents sprinkled with the sounds of yesterday, swathed in a blanket of vintage post-punk, simmer for over 30 years, then release to the world fusing modern-day technology with the innate grace of old-school styles – and you have Dream of a Man in a Top Hat. Similar to fine wine, multi-instrumentalists Lee Leffler and Michael Frackleton combine the rawness of 80s post-punk and the contemporary blast of electronic beats in an eclectic swirl of music.
When we left Dream of a Man in a Top Hat, at least review-wise, Leffler and Frackleton misted about in a world of alternative rock with ‘Eggshell Minefield’; a return from the country-tinged ‘Cold Hard Dirt’. Since those days, Dream of a Man in a Top Hat released a few more singles and two EPs, all to critical acclaim reaching audiences across the globe with a growing adoration for their intriguing sound. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘The Bad Side’.
The second single of 2023, ‘The Bad Side’ follows their well-received song ‘WORRY’ and EP Truthsenser with an evolution in the eclectic melody. Moving from the post-punk inspired vintage meets contemporary glass of foggy sonic swirls meeting with flair, flash and cheeky allure, ‘The Bad Side’ returns to a heavier, harder alternative rock tone.
From the get-go, ‘The Bad Side’ clutches you with a matching of pounding drums and scorching guitars. Tossing you from pillar to post, the lads hold you close in a wall-offed glass room viewing the tumultuous sound about you – sort of like being the eye of a storm feeling safe while simultaneously scared witless. Distorted flairs rock you about as the clips of guitar, crash of drums and bold vocals build a fortress of anthemic, heart-pumping rock music. Interestingly, it is not the standard design that makes Dream of a Man in a Top Hat melodically masterful but the inclusion of complex arrangements in the background. Percussion flutters along veiled by the mammoth of hard rock tones giving ‘The Bad Side’ a slight reprieve in a gasp of breath.
Sincere and powerful with a tranquil balance of retro post-punk brashness and modern-day alternative rock pompousness, ‘The Bad Side’ is not bad at all; in fact, it’s rather good. Hats off to Dream of a Man in a Top Hat – a well-defined squirt of vintage wine made to soothe and scintillate.
Find out more about Dream of a Man in a Top Hat on their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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