JAMAICAN ALE FUELS THE LATHUMS LATEST NEW SINGLE 'STELLAR CAST' |

SINGLE REVIEW | THE LATHUMS – STELLAR CAST by Anne Kelly

It’s all go for Wigan’s current finest The Lathums this autumn as the band share their latest release ‘Stellar Cast‘. The Jamaican ale fueled fever dream encounter found in the depths of front man Alex Moore‘s mind, ‘Stellar Cast‘ marks the second taste of what is highly speculated to be The Lathums rumored third album following the Summer hit ‘No Direction‘.

After taking some time to retreat to the studio around the bands biggest hometown headline at Wigan’s Robin Park in July, The Lathums latest single dropped exclusively on BBC Radio 6 and is available across streaming platforms right now.

‘Stellar Cast‘ shines light on Moore’s profound lyricism and distinct delivery, whilst offering a spine-tingling good spooky season themed ambience. The first few seconds slip in a thunderous storm sound effect whilst guitarist Scott Concepcion pierces through the intro with shrieking retro guitar lick. The tone is unmistakably Lathums and is swiftly reminiscent of the bands earlier, more sinister themed tracks such as ‘Foolish Parley‘ or ‘I See Your Ghost‘; the latter due to the familiarity of the indie-ska beating rhythms of the tracks bouncing verse.

That initial thundering intro is continued throughout with drummer Ryan Durrans thrashing momentum and Matty Murphy‘s dooming bassline carries Moore’s rhythmic singing effortlessly. It’s always refreshing to hear the more theatrical style of lyricism the band produce so well; this song is made to move to and the foot is tapping before the first verse is even half way complete.

The Lathums – Robin Park (Lucy McLachlan/Northern Exposure)

On ‘Stellar Cast‘, Alex Moore shares; “I got the inspiration for this song after one of our early gigs at the Brudenell in Leeds. We were joined by a stellar lineup. It was one of the rare times I’d had a bit too much to drink before going on stage. That night on the bus back, I had a crazy dream, probably fuelled by all the Jamaican ale I refer to in the song. In the dream, there was a strange figure at the end of my bed that I couldn’t get out of my head for a long time after.”

Dazzling with Moore’s usual lyrical charm, the track has a real grip of desperation and mystique at its core.

“Now I can’t get you out my mind, I thought about it once or twice. No I can’t get you out of my mind, even if I could I wouldn’t try”.

Whilst the message is of something subconscious or even supernatural, the lyrics could equally be attributed to a romantic encounter than you just can’t forget about. Traditionally, that’s the magic of Moore’s songwriting; whilst the tracks are uniquely personal to himself, there is always plenty of scope of interpretation and that is what continues to resonate with their growing fan base.

Alex says, “This song is about someone who gets completely drawn in by this mysterious, almost otherworldly figure. They leave the person with more questions than answers, but it’s the kind of obsession they can’t shake, even if they tried.”

“The figure feels like a mix of everything. Part-friend, part-foe, maybe even a lover. There’s something intoxicating about them, like the Jamaican ale, burning bright but disappearing just as quickly.”

Whilst 2024’s earlier ‘No Direction‘ was a hit with fans regardless, it lacked the depth that really makes The Lathums so alluring. ‘Stellar Cast‘ raises that bar again and demonstrates the growth of this young band in such a short career window. It doesn’t stand out massively in the bands extensive discography, however, it slots in sweetly with the best of their work and will no doubt go down a storm in live settings.

In terms of hinting at what’s to come for The Lathums over the next year, it’s exciting. Their sound is forever maturing and the level of skill the four of them hold is wise beyond their years in every sense. Even with my own fan bias, these guys strike as one of those band who will absolutely stand the test of time.

Stellar Cast is OUT NOW on all streaming services.

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Chance To See

Thr Lathums and Curious Minds joined together with the shared aim of bringing music, theatre and other artistic projects into the lives of people with no other way of accessing them. Individual donations to the Chance To See Fund are welcome via the Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/chancetosee.