Shambolics - Scarlett Harlett (Single Review)

Shambolics are a four-piece Scottish indie rock band from Kirkaldy. They released their new track 'Scarlett Harlett' on the 31st of May 2016. Now as I watched the music video I just couldn't believe how professional it was, it was like a video that Catfish and the Bottlemen would make! If they used that video for one of their songs everyone would think it was ace! Simple, yet effective - rather enigmatic to be honest. The quartet consists of; Lewis McDonald and Darren Forbes both on vocals and guitar, Jordan Mchatton on the bass and Andrew 'Pandy' Finlay on the drums.

The intro is very Arctic Monkeys/ The Last Shadow Puppets Inspired. The lead singer for this track; McDonalds voice reminds me very much of Miles Kane. The upbeat guitars and powerful drums work well to increase the intensity of the track; however they aren't too powerful, they don't draw the attention away from the lyrics at all.

The intro is very long, in fact it is 1 minute and 13 seconds long on the music video. On the other hand, the long awaited intro builds the suspense up. McDonalds voice is full of indignation as he sings a song about a nymphomaniac who can't be monogamous to one man even though she has a ring on her finger. Perhaps its a retaliation towards all women saying how 'all men are the same' and how they can't keep their dick in their pants resulting in them always ending up being a cheat? The band are trying to open your eyes and broaden your horizons by saying that woman can in fact be just as bad as men in some cases. Which is true. As McDonald goes on to sing the powerful opening verse of...

'Ooh what a mistake, sayin' - 'hello' to a different man every week and wake. And its a quickest goodbye as you face the morning light, way back to your husband who's been worried sick all night.'

The whole track is very full on and very intense but it is brilliant because it flows so easily even though the whole song should be shouted because there's that much anger and frustration to the lyrics. The chorus is also brilliantly written, about that lady sleeping around - I think it is one of those situations where the whole town knows about her 'dirty little secret' and so does her husband but he just doesn't want to accept the fact that his wife is like that and therefore denies it to himself. Her husband must know as he is 'worried sick all night'.

'Cus when the sun goes down and the stars comes out, there's a side to you that I've never really known. Sleeping round this town is only gonna bring you down, in the morning when they tell you where to go.'

In conclusion I must say this track is absolutely spot on, they've managed to achieve the perfect balance between the instruments and the vocals as neither overpower one another. You can appreciate the instrumental simultaneously to being able to appreciate and hear the lyrics. After nearly 18 months of running my blog, I must admit that this is one of the best unsigned tracks that I ever heard. You really do have a bright future ahead of you, lets get some more famous Scottish indie bands out there! You can do it lads, this is a brilliant track and I'm glad that you have asked me to review it for you. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. That is all. I would definitely recommend that you give their track below a listen; you won't regret it (unless you dislike the arctic monkeys or the the last shadow puppets) - it is an absolutely fantastic track. Well done lads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNW0gd_ox9w