Small Reactions play situational pop songs. Relying on the minimal instrumentation of guitar, bass, vintage organs, and drums, the quartet is equal parts post-punk, new wave, and surf.
The band themselves prefer the term “nerve pop” to describe their music. The phrase comprises the frenetic energy of the late 70s new wavers and Bob Dylan’s shaky foot circa 1965. Sonically, they resemble “Chairs Missing”-period Wire and early Stereolab. Lyrically, they reside somewhere in the “new domestic” school.
New Age Soul, the quartet’s forthcoming album due out in 2021 on SofaBurn Records, takes Small Reactions into uncharted waters, bringing out their finest moments yet. While the band’s initial M.O. was to subvert indie pop through a state of blissful repetition, they now paint with a more vibrant palette — an adventurous approach full of tightly-strung melodies and a steadfast foundation that’s led to support with Portugal The Man, Mac DeMarco, DIIV, and Titus Andronicus.
For the first time, Small Reactions’ songs breathe, they ride for a second longer, unencumbered as they move towards the light. Through a newfound clarity, the band’s instrumental interplay has been pushed to the top with brighter hues, thicker textures, and modern shapes. It’s easier to tell when lines dive behind corners and return to an altered state. The surprise left turns are still there — now all you have to do is keep up.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the band’s new single “Police State,” a title that will undoubtedly bring to mind many of the events that have shaped the social and political sphere of this year from hell. The jangly track finds guitarist and lead vocalist singing in a style that is ponderous as he strums dreamily on the guitar. Reminiscent of acts like Luna but with more of a laid back, slacker vibe, the song injects an element of folk to its indie rock sound. The guitar work also carries a psychedelic surf rock sound that is best summed up by the sprawling and beautiful solo that takes place toward the end of the song.
Scotty Hoffman describes the inspiration and process behind the song:
“I wrote this on a July evening – I remember that hot, muggy summer. The song just kind of fell out. It was already there, and probably took fifteen minutes to write. Just one you can be lucky to grab from the clouds, I guess.
It’s a dystopian story with an ambiguous ending. You have a protagonist who is hurting and alone, and the music is gentle and lilting. Creates this strange vibe to me. It’s a bit ghostly, a bit melancholic. I’ve been pretty obsessed for years with all of that old American folk music — stuff from ‘the Anthology’, ‘American Epic’, ‘Dust-to-Digital’, etc. I like the idea of trying to write one of those songs about people with a story you can follow.”
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Photo credit: Ruben Alverado
