The Hampshire-based trio have dropped their explosive and much hyped debut single.
Photo: Jude Harrison
For a band that has only just dropped their debut single, Uncle Junior are certainly making a name for themselves. The Hampshire trio already have publishing and distribution deals with Domino and AWAL respectively under their belts, alongside a support slot on a sold-out UK tour with indie sensations Man/Woman/Chainsaw.
Suffice to say, Uncle Junior are making waves before their music has even really hit streaming, which leads us to what is obviously the most important thing: the music. Unsurprisingly, Uncle Junior’s debut single Melt Me is an explosive, catchy hurricane of a single. The song begins with creeping, muted, distorted guitars leading into its apathetic verses where lead singer Oli Noble laments the absurdity of modern dating app culture. By the time the song explodes into its chorus refrain of “Melt me”, the song has burst into bright technicolour. It’s super catchy, but what’s most impressive is the restraint and dynamism on display here. It’s reminiscent of classic quiet-loud grunge bands like The Pixies and The Smashing Pumpkins of the nineties.
After a ripping guitar solo, the song collapses in on itself into a dazed and confused outro where Noble recounts that he’s “seeing your mother on various dating apps.” Accompanied now by a winding, waltzing acoustic guitar, it all sounds like the band are fed up and exasperated but still intimately aware of the ludicrousness and absurdity of it all.
It’s great to hear a band toe the line between having fun without becoming a joke or a novelty themselves. It’s certainly confident for a band to come right out of the blocks with a debut single as fun, energetic and invigorating as this.
On Melt Me, Uncle Junior are proving that, despite all the early hype, they really do not have anything to prove at all. They are already writing exciting and energising songs. If they can keep these sorts of songs coming and couple them with some more cacophonous live shows, then they really will be onto a winner. Let’s hope the apps don’t send them into despair before they get to that point.
Melt Me is out now.
