SPANGLED – HORIZON’S GLANCE | SINGLE REVIEW
The Manchester rising stars spring into 2024 with a weird and wonderful first single of the year.
Horizon’s Glance marks the start of a new chapter for Spangled and is the band’s most experimental release yet. The song combines electric and acoustic guitars, to create a thundering and anthemic desert rock style masterpiece.
The song has a really timeless feel to it, sonically harking back to classics like America’s Horse With No Name and The Doors’ Riders On The Storm. Although Horizon’s Glance would sound right at home being played while driving full speed through a desert somewhere, its inspiration couldn’t be any more British. The band themselves site more local influences, Elbow’s Grounds for Divorce and The Smiths’ How Soon Is Now, both characterised by warbling guitars, moody, nonsensical lyrics and products of the city that Spangled call home.
Horizon’s Glance may sound like the band’s most grown up release yet, but lyrical content wise … it’s bonkers. I had to listen back to the chorus a few times to confirm that yes, I am hearing “I was eating vermicelli in the pouring rain” correctly.
Lead Singer Ben Johnston explains: “It’s about a Chinese takeaway I made up in my head. It’s a magical place. It’s where I go to when I’m feeling down. The magical Chinese takeaway in my noggin. You should try it.”
A strange concept for sure, but would you really expect anything less from Spangled? The band have become known for their sense of humour which is ingrained in their lyrics and spills over into their live performances, something which has helped to take their following from strength to strength.
Speaking on the origins of the track, Guitarist Jamie Halliday said: “It started out as quite a folky tune that I wrote on an acoustic guitar, with a swung guitar rhythm. Ben suggested we make it a bit heavier – boy was he right. I’d just got a tremolo pedal and it was the perfect opportunity to try it out, I used it for the intro and first verse, and I love it, the tremolo gives it a sinister kinda vibe.”
This single sees the band dip their toes into a new more experimental sound, so naturally, Horizon’s Glance is accompanied by ‘experimental’ artwork, with the band appearing on the cover dressed as scientists. Though visually tongue in cheek, it does feel like Horizon’s Glance is the start of a move in a new direction for Spangled, and I can’t wait to see what else this talented young band have up their sleeves.
Catch Spangled live:
15th March–Bridlington Spa Sessions
20th July–Godney Gathering Festival
Keep up to date with Spangled here.
Read our Interview with Spangled at Truck Festival 2023 here.
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