Modern Living

Muttering

Single Review

It’s probably fair to say that at this point in time we are all suffering from National Whiplash. From everything in the news to the white noise of the internet it is very easy to feel like the best course of action would be to find a good patch of sand, and shove your head in it. Well, in giving us a taste of their forthcoming debut album ‘GREAT,’ (released September 9th) UK Alt-Rock troubadours Muttering embody this sense of helplessness and disassociation that is slowly gripping UK society, if not the world, more and more in recent times. From the unapologetic lyrics to the dropkicking guitars, Modern Living holds a mirror up to a generation casually addicted to their phones.

“….I wasn’t listening again, I was just looking at my phone….” That the song opens with these lines over a simply picked chord pattern immediately tells you that this band are not about to sugar coat their feelings and the message they are trying to send. Lets be real, how many times have you heard this sentence, or even said it yourself. In that single moment, for me anyway, they tapped into that deep frustration at how these tiny objects hold so much power. After tickling this feeling though the song does a good job of pulling you into the heart of what the song is about “….I don’t want to think for too long….” Again, another simple and succinct line that encapsulates everyones unspoken reason for staring at the screen. Its our new head in the sand moment.

Its at this point in the song as those lines are sang: notably delivered in a very tentative, almost self reflective manor, that the song begins to build through the addition of a strong and steady rise in noise to allow the chorus to have full impact. The contrast at this point is so nicely crafted because it feels to me like the moment at which we all reach several times a week, ‘I don’t need my phone anymore, I need to do something else’. So as the song kicks into a higher gear it mirrors that temporary yet firm resolve of wanting to escape and connect to the real world. To add to this feeling there is also a shift in the singing style that takes on a more desperate and urgent tone that really blends so well with the surging change in the music. Combine this intensity with lyrics such as “….tell me about something that you love….I don’t want to feel numb….” This song truly becomes a beacon for a generation.

Overall, Modern Living is one the most honest and self reflective social commentary songs I’ve heard in a while. You really get the sense that the band have not only held the mirror up to themselves as individuals but are also urging you as the listener to do the same. ‘Lets connect on a personal level’ is the overarching plea that comes from the heart of this song. As a taste test for an album this track has truly ignited my excitement to hear the full thing when it drops.

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