Manchester’s Spangled returned yesterday with their new single ‘Maggie’. It marks a new era for the band, with Joe Kilroy joining the band on drums. ‘Maggie’ was produced by Gareth Nuttall (The K’s / Rolla) and mastered by Grant Berry.
*image credit: Owen Peters
Artwork credit: Owen Peters
Musically, Spangled have leaned into their love of The Cure with Jamie Halliday’s subtle guitar lines taking a romantic gothic turn. As the single builds, the underdog spirit of Neds Atomic Dustbin and Thousand Yard Stare collide with The Who’s vastness as they build to a euphoric climax.
However, frontman Ben Johnson’s vocals and lyrics are where ‘Maggie’s brilliance lay. At points, Johnson delivers his most angelic vocal. As such, the innocence and celebratory look back at Nan’s life with dementia are allowed to shine through.
The early stages are blessed with a romance and charm that can only come from a grandchild gazing lovingly on at a story they’ve heard a thousand times before. Johnson lights up his Nan with a curiosity about where her mind went and will have many raising their heads to the heavens to think upon those gone.
In the closing stages, though, Johnson delivers an emotional uppercut to set bottom lips quivering:
“I had to look the other way when she asked me if my dad was ok / I wonder if she knows”
The gut-wrenching moments of ‘Good Life Better’ roar to the surface as Johnson howls out a truly incredible vocal. His pain and torment try to find a way out, but Johnson fights back defiantly, not wanting to let the scars show to someone he clearly worshipped.
Despite the grief-ridden torment end, you’re left with the touching sentiment:
“I wanna go wherever Maggie goes”.
On such a deeply personal tale, Spangled have touched upon something universal that will win them legions of fans. The echoes of Pulp discovering themselves in 1994 ooze from this record, now it’s time for those big crowds for Spangled too.