Following a brief hiatus from the scene, Manchester rock outfit Cold Water Swimmers return to launch their superb new single Were You Even There, by way of their own DIY or DIE label.
Instantly intimate for the refreshing acoustic guitar riff and subsequent rhythm and voice warmth, Were You Even There welcomes equal parts catchy progressions and deeply emotive sentiments.
Musically comforting yet conceptually uncertain, the track feels nostalgic in its classic indie rock aura, and in its delivery and live-style presentation. Underneath this, however, Cold Water Swimmers maintain the distinctly thoughtful, passionate sense of longing and openness that has become a crucial part of their creative identity of late. In particular, the build-up and repeated title-line following the further outpouring of details and scenes, injects a defiant degree of precisely that humanity and realism.
Combine this with an original title and easily memorable tune, and the release is quick to leave its mark. To then consider that final, closing section, the band’s singer and songwriter Chris Bridgett returning to this immersive loop with unrivaled emotion and grit, is to witness the full-circle experience of a finely-crafted indie hit.
Were You Even There begs for you to listen more than once – this recognisable, questioning call-out and the timeless simplicity of the melody uniting effortlessly with the calm, organic rock set-up beside it.
Brilliant – a great way to kick off the new year.
Releasing January 6th. Follow Cold Water Swimmers on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
