The new track from HAVVK, ’52’ is a luscious fusion of dream pop landscapes and anger – a strange but very satisfying mix that perfectly captures its political intent – the deep melancholy sadness following the societal schisms caused by the 2016 Brexit vote and the anger arising from the manner it was achieved. A much welcome political lament.
We lived in London at the time of the vote and I don’t think any of us will forget the day the result came out. It felt like the campaign was designed to leverage a divide between people. At times, it felt like every spokesperson for or against Brexit was willing to put a short-term win ahead of opening a genuine conversation about people’s safety and futures. It drove a chasm between people which only seems to getting wider, with a rise in racism and hate-crime, and the constant outpour of hateful language in online media.
Front woman, Julie Hawk, has a voice that softly glides in the verses and erupts in the cloud-high chorus. I cannot help but think of the late and much lamented Dolores O’Riordan from the Cranberries or Elizabeth Fraser from The Cocteau Twins: it’s that good and it’s that enthralling. Coupled with an instrumentation that recalls both of these bands as well as Radiohead and Slowdive, this is a treasure of a single: shoegaze lovingly wrapped in a dreamy sonic interlude with melody and passion:
’52’ is available now though all the usual digital outlets. HAVVK will be launching their album ‘Cause and Effect’ on 6 December 2019 at the Bello Bar in Dublin. The album will be out on 22 November 2019. I can’t wait to hear it.
HAVVK are:
Julie Hough – Vocals, Bass
Matthew Harris – Guitar
Sam Campbell – Drums
Intriguingly, they split their time between London, Dublin and Berlin.
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