The Vanities – Private Army (2023)
With great success as an electro-rock group in the 2000s, Rhys Bradley and Adam Hill were turning heads wherever they wandered. Then, after this “riotous period of success”, the lads retreated into a sonic exile before re-emerging with a blast in 2021. While they had been missing in action for a decade, the Welsh pair were not forgotten, once again turning the heads of audiences and critics across the globe. In fact, the pair supported Spandau Ballet legend Tony Hadley on his 40th Anniversary Tour in 2022. The latest addition to The Vanities’ repertoire is the single ‘Private Army’.
Departing from their signature 80s-inspired electronic sound, The Vanities adopt a softer, smoother, haunting acoustic-inspired sound in ‘Private Army’. Incorporating a string section with the drums, guitar and prominent piano, ‘Private Army’ brings an orchestral vibe to what might be considered a simple ballad – but it is so much more! The string section is particularly moving offering an ethereal ambience and lifting Bradley’s rich vocals to another dimension of sonic awesomeness. Moreover, the balance between the strings, drums and electric guitar sees (or rather hears) The Vanities find a delicate line between organic and synthetic sounds.
Listening to ‘Private Army’, I can easily hear why they shared the stage with Tony Hadley. An 80s pop sound lingers in the melody; however, The Vanities bring this sound to contemporary audiences with a slice of evocative modern-day pop. A palpable melancholy and vulnerability can be heard in the music perfectly capturing the poignant “lament on the folly of humankind in the new era of war in Europe”.
In addition to the single, The Vanities released an official music video for ‘Private Army’. You can view the video below or on their YouTube channel.
Sincere, sentimental and spine-chillingly intimate, The Vanities explore human vulnerability and fragility in the awe-inspiring single ‘Private Army’.
For more from The Vanities, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bandcamp.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
