AN INDIE ROCK VIBE WITH A SPRINKLING OF SHOEGAZE | INHALER SHARE TITLE TRACK ‘OPEN WIDE’

SINGLE REVIEW | INHALER – OPEN WIDE By Keira Knox

‘Open Wide,’ Inhaler’s most recent single, is the second release from their upcoming album of the same name. ‘Open Wide’ demonstrates a completely different musical approach for the band after the publication of ‘Your House’. This change in tone creates anticipation for the remaining tracks on the forthcoming album. The band’s development and experimentation with various genres is evident in the track.

With their third album, Inhaler are a formidable force. They’re a band that have never shied away from experimentation, bending genres to fit amongst their musical style. In contrast to the band’s usual sound, the track’s echoing synths maintain an indie rock vibe with a sprinkling of shoegaze. The powerful percussion melody creates an ethereal ambiance that intensifies during the chorus. The song’s message is further reinforced by the passionate vocals that follow the folk-like beginning guitar riff.

The track’s lyrical structure is repetitive, however this recurrent pattern highlights its main concept: a sense of comfort, providing your arms as a symbolic safety blanket, prepared to embrace someone once their emotional barriers are down. Although repetitive in nature it has the ability to captivate a listener with its poignant lyricism.

Speaking on the track, lead singer, Elijah Hewson stated: “’Open Wide’ was originally a short electronic house demo that was lying around in our graveyard. We loved the bass line and the four to the floor kick on it. When we took it to the studio in London for the tracking of the album and started playing it in the room it took on almost the opposite form, it’s still got that hypnotic tunnel thing, but it’s gone panoramic. We love it.”

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Keira Knox

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