With idiosyncratic spelling and stylisation currently de rigeur for any self-respecting Scottish act, Edinburgh’s SHVLLOWS have got in on the act with their catchy new single ‘Zurich’.
Named after the Swiss financial centre which counts “efficiently run” as one of the main reasons to visit, it’s not exactly Ibiza or LA in terms of eliciting thoughts of unbridled hedonism in an audience, but it does match up nicely to the pristine sheen of production gloss that gives the chorus the glossy heft of Passion Pit or fellow Scots, Prides.
Similarly a stadium sized, swirling guitar solo sounds like Joe Satriani letting rip over an M83 backdrop.
The 1975 have proved that glossy eighties synths and energetic pop songs targeted at the sexy/sad boy intersection can still sell.
There’s no knowing yet whether SHVLLOWS harbour hidden depths but for a serotonin boosting smash, the impeccable melodies of ‘Zurich’ are hard to beat.
Words: Max Seton
