June has struck which means, another new single from Liverpool’s This Is War. As the band embarks on a single every month, they serve up ‘E.T.A’ this month.
This time out, they embrace their funky mod souls and fire out Steve Craddock licks alongside their natural raw power. Craddock’s work with Weller on the underrated classic ‘Heavy Soul’ and the more recent ‘Wake Up The Nation’ come out to play with the effortless cool of Jonathan Richman.
Their previous singles have tended to see one member or certain sections of the band step up for their moment in the sun. Here, a togetherness builds on record to match their live spirit. The layers of guitar parts feed in and around the great bass hooks. Paul Carden’s vocals turn full power on but, only fleetingly to allow the mod beats to reset and begin their infectious shuffle once again.
This Is War is firm proof it’s about the journey, not the destination. 2022 is a year of release experimentation. It’s a roll of the dice that is proving more than fruitful for them. ‘E.T.A’ serves up new textures and a depth not yet seen from them. There’s so much here to admire it is a certainty you will return for more.