31 Dec 2024
Borderline - Single Review: Going Home (Bitter)
20 Apr 2023 // A review by Kev Rowland
Here we have the latest single from teen alt pop indie band Borderline, and I can hear from this as to why they have been making such an impression on the scene. They have just completed a quick four date jaunt to promote this, but are playing again soon in their home city of Auckland, and it will certainly be interesting to compare their live sound with what I am currently listening to as this has been very heavily layered and produced indeed, and I am sure they are somewhat rockier and abrasive at gigs.
With Going Home (Bitter), they have managed to bring together elements of the classic Dunedin sound with 80’s UK indie bands such as Pulp and Suede to create something which has some nice guitars yet also contains plenty of pop melodies.
The drums and bass provide cut through and a nice solid platform, but I could have done without quite so many vocals as at times it almost seems like a choir, and for me it detracts from what is a nice bright and bouncy song. It is bang on three minutes long, so perfect for the radio and I am sure it will get airplay, but to me the sound is too compressed and almost artificial.
Considering how young they are this is still quite an achievement, and I am going to follow their progress with interest.
Rating:
( 3 / 5 )
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