The Klittens have always occupied an intriguing corner of the Dutch indie underground, where sugar-coated melodies collide with sharp edges and DIY conviction. On new single ‘Taxi’, the Amsterdam five-piece continue to blur the line between dream-pop haze and post-punk unease, offering another compelling glimpse of their long-awaited debut album Have A Heart, due September 25.
Following the release of first single ‘Universal Experience’, ‘Taxi’ finds the band pushing further into adventurous territory. Built around dreamy melodies that never quite resolve into comfort, the track simmers with quiet tension as it explores the familiar pull of old habits and emotional inertia. Rather than exploding into catharsis, ‘Taxi’ lingers in uncertainty, reflecting the paralysis of recognising destructive patterns while remaining unable, or unwilling, to escape them.
That uneasy atmosphere extends into the song’s striking accompanying video, assembled entirely from hidden camera footage captured by The Dutch Bird Protection Society. The intimate snapshots of nesting birds and fledglings taking their first flight create an unexpectedly poignant counterpoint to the song’s themes, suggesting cycles of growth, hesitation and eventual release that mirror the emotional landscape at the heart of the track.
The Klittens have steadily carved out a reputation for making indie rock that refuses to sit comfortably within one genre. Pulling influence from everyone from The Ronettes and Kate Bush to MF DOOM and Dry Cleaning, the band combine luminous pop melodies with darker lyrical undercurrents and a punk-informed DIY philosophy. Every aspect of their career, from songwriting and releasing music to booking tours and organising their annual Klitfest, has remained firmly in their own hands.
Having already built a loyal following through EPs Citrus and Butter, alongside tours across Europe and the UK supporting the likes of Otoboke Beaver and BODEGA, The Klittens arrive at their debut album with considerable momentum. If ‘Taxi’ is any indication, Have A Heart promises to be a confident statement from one of the Netherlands’ most inventive emerging bands.
