SINGLE: The Maccabees – Feel to Follow

The second single to be taken from The Maccabees’ third studio album (‘Given to the Wild’), ‘Feel to Follow’ takes the band into darker territory than their previous single ‘Pelican’. ‘Given to the Wild’ caused a stir on its release, charting at number four and sending the band catapulting into the limelight like never before. After seven years in the business, The Maccabees finally seem to be receiving attention outside the pages of indie and alternative magazines. With a date at Alexandra Palace this summer, there is no doubt that this Brighton band are looking forward to big things in 2012.

‘Feel to Follow’, then, is certainly one of the songs that will help them on their way to indie stardom. Beginning with the slow, stripped back sound of just vocals and drums, it builds gradually – adding keyboard chords, before signature Maccabees fast-paced and energetic guitar melodies. The single blends the quiet moments of Orlando Week’s high pitched, breathless voice, set against a sparse musical background, with the electronic rock’s loud, instrumental crescendo, and fast, driving riffs at the song’s end.

Using a similarly brief vocal and lyrical style as ‘Love You Better,’ and the same guitar that distinguishes all of their music, the new single feels like an obvious evolution of their particular strand of indie-electro. The Maccabees have come a long way from the upbeat, carefree singles from ‘Colour It In’ (their first album released in 2007), and although ‘Feel to Follow’ is not as infectious as singles like ‘About Your Dress’ or ‘Latchmere,’ its gradual build, and burst of energy at the end is still enjoyable and rewarding.

It feels much more heartfelt and moving than some of their previous records, and the moody lyrics suggest the honest emotion of the quieter sections’ deeper, more sombre tone. Having said that though, the vibrant finish to the single balances out the slow start, and is sure to leave every Maccabees fan smiling and dancing until the very end.