Single Review: Divorce - 'Antarctica'
Do they ever miss? No...
Can you give the title of ‘Album of the Year’ to a release that’s not even, well, been released yet? Because, let’s face it, Divorce’s debut album ‘Drive to Goldenhammer’ feels like a dead cert to at least be a contender - they never put a foot wrong, and their new single ‘Antarctica’ is another example of that fact.
Offering something a little different to previous singles, ‘Antarctica’ is a slightly jauntier tune, with plucky guitar strings and synth-y drum beats providing the foundation for a pretty uplifting soundscape.
Yet dive into the lyricism and there’s a slightly more serious tone at play, with the band using their latest record to “capture - and counter - a sense of loss”.
It’s testament to what makes Divorce one of our city’s most impactful bands right now: If you want to feel something, get emotional, you can dive deep into their tunes; if you want to bop your head or dance around, you can simply let their gorgeous melodies lift your mood.
A special shoutout goes to both Felix Mackenzie-Barrow and Tiger Cohen-Towell for this one. It’s safe to say they’ve likely not hit a bum note in their musical careers to date, of course, but there’s an added sense of wonder and enchantment to the hazy vocals here, elevated by the magic of producer Catherine Marks (of boygenius and Wolf Alice fame).
So, yeah, months before it’s even released, I’m going out on a limb and saying ‘Drive to Goldenhammer’ is going to be my favourite album of 2025. Based on ‘Antarctica’, I’m unlikely to be proven wrong.
‘Antarctica’ debuted on BBC Radio 6 Music.