Wigan/Manchester indie quartet Montello continue to build momentum with their latest single, ‘Eleanor (When Will You Learn)’, delivering another dose of their distinctive melancholy, only this time with enough movement to make the heartache dance rather than mope.
Balancing the punchy indie instincts of The Vaccines and early Arctic Monkeys with the unmistakable influence of The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Oasis, the new track finds Montello turning emotional turmoil into something immediate and infectious. Produced by Luke Owens of fast-rising Manchester band Bank Holiday, ‘Eleanor (When Will You Learn)’ brings together jangling guitar lines, a waltzing drum beat and anthemic vocal melodies, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and distinctly their own.
At the heart of the track is a familiar story of frustration, dysfunction and the exhausting cycle of trying to make sense of a relationship that refuses to make sense. Montello explain: “‘Eleanor (When Will You Learn)’ is a song that describes the turmoil of a dysfunctional relationship with someone too concerned with themselves to care.” the band explain. “The banging-your-head-against-the-wall chic the lyrics embody result in a song that many of our audience can relate to, from the sarcastic ‘You know I love you’s’ to the bargaining of the titular question ‘When will you learn?’ – all neatly wrapped up in the instrumentation of a nostalgic noughties indie rock tune..”
That blend of lyrical honesty and accessible indie songwriting has become central to Montello’s growing appeal. Rather than allowing its subject matter to sink the song into gloom, the band give it a sense of forward motion, turning frustration into something that can be shouted back from a crowded room. The result is a track that wears its emotional bruises openly while still sounding built for the live circuit.
Since the release of their debut EP, Montello have enjoyed a rapid rise through the UK indie scene, taking their music on the road with tours across the country and appearances at festivals including Truck Festival and the Isle Of Wight Festival. Their growing profile has also attracted support from tastemakers including Dork, Earmilk, Gigslutz, Notion and Ones To Watch, alongside Radio X’s John Kennedy.
The quartet have continued to translate that momentum into increasingly significant live performances, appearing at Manchester institutions including O2 Ritz and Gorilla before reaching another milestone with a headline show at Manchester’s Deaf Institute, which they sold out.
With ‘Eleanor (When Will You Learn)’ adding another sharply written, nostalgia-tinged entry to their catalogue, Montello are proving increasingly adept at turning the messier side of relationships into indie songs that refuse to wallow. If their trajectory so far is anything to go by, the Wigan/Manchester quartet are only just getting started.
