Tāmaki Makaurau four-piece Ringlets strongly returned last week with their new single “Sever”, alongside an announcement that their debut album will finally be here next month.
One of the most memorable tunes of their impressive live sets over the last year, “Sever” showcases a different side to the band’s sound as compared with last year’s theatrical single “Feeling of the Body”. Where that track’s bad acid trip of knotty guitar lines and staccato vocal delivery clearly drew from gothic and psychedelic influences – think Bauhaus or Echo and the Bunnymen – “Sever” plays out instead as a punky, Britpop-inflected guitar anthem.
Singer Leith Towers is in much more commanding form on their new track, while guitarist László Reynolds once again delights with frenetic fretboard theatrics; bassist Arabella Poulsen and drummer Arlo Grey, meanwhile, are locked in as always with proper post-punk grooves that syncopate and release as “Sever” opens up. The whole thing feels energetic and urgent, and some slick production enhances the overall sound of the track.
Ringlets’ vastly contrasting singles both offer lots of optimism for the band’s forthcoming debut album, which is set to drop on April 3rd on Mutual Skies. Melding knowledgable musicianship with fearless sonic exploration and theatrical flourishes, it will be intriguing to hear what the band can achieve on a full-length record.
Following its release, they’ll launch their album with a show at Auckland’s Big Fan on April 14th. Ringlets have been busy touring and honing their band unit over the last year; having built up a favourable reputation locally recently, which included performing at a Sunday session at the Hollywood Avondale alongside Babe Martin and Ballot Box earlier this month, their live show is definitely one to check out.
Ringlets’ “Sever” is out now. Their debut album is out April 3rd via Mutual Skies.
