Cumbrian indie rockers mylittlebrother have a new album out Throwing Darts at Maps. Available on digital and limited vinyl through their Bandcamp page.
They have very kindly given us a track by track commentary the LP so we can get the exact low down on what drives these harmony drenched nuggets of indie joy.
1. World On Fire
This one sets the tone for the album really… “As the world spins to dereliction, my world shrinks to a pure protection around you“. It’s a song about the horrifying state of the world, but how this just amplifies feelings of love and the importance of friendship and love when everything else is on fire. The organ gives it an almost funereal feel, whilst the gang vocals and harmonies were meant as an almost choral idea to emphasize that, but also to bring beauty into everything too.
2. You Know Better
I had the idea for You Know Better when both my partner and I were struggling with Long Covid, and we had to listen to people we knew telling us that Covid didn’t exist. That was a level of infuriating that I had never really encountered before… This unlocked a deep-rooted anger within me that I had at climate change deniers, amongst other things, and the song was born. To the ear it is an upbeat feelgood indie banger, but lyrically it’s pretty bleak in places!
3. Adeline
I wrote this song years ago, but never recorded a version I was happy with until now. I’ve always loved the chords, and the simplicity of it, but adding Dan and Jamie’s gorgeous lush guitar lines and harmonies really brought this song to life. It was written as a love song to a friend who had been going through a horrible time. Adeline was meant as a cathartic, grateful song acknowledging that that horrible time was over.
4. Magnificent
This is a love song for weirdos. It is a celebration of diversity, quirks and the breadth of personality that can exist within one person. Initially in the studio this song didn’t really work, it felt like 5 of us playing different songs. Alex Blamire, who produced it, turned to me on piano and said “Well, I can hear Carole King”. From that point on, the piano part completely changed, and everything else slotted together perfectly. Alex also came up with the idea for the “ooh la la la”s AND the random hand-clap. So, thanks Alex!
5. Gone
This is the only song on the album that I didn’t write or sing, it is all Dan Mason (one of our guitarists). Dan describes it as: “for anyone who has ever lost someone special to them. So, likely, everyone”
I am in love with the production on this one, from the string-like soaring guitars to Dan’s incredible vocal, it just builds and builds with passion and it breaks my heart every time I hear it.
6. Interlude No. 6
This is an instrumental. I wanted something a bit messy and clunky ahead of the following song, which is really warm and polished. It’s just piano, a weird glitchy synth, and me asking “was that alright?” before we have the count-in to sound like the Greenwich Pips. We got a bit obsessed in making sure the tone was exactly right, but nailed it!
7. Soldiers
Enter the Juno. The entry of Soldiers after the Interlude is one of my favourite moments of the album. It goes from clunky to absolute warmth, like a heated, weighted blanket. This is largely down to the beautiful chord on the Roland Juno synth that enters at the start. I gave Alex a specific tone from one of my favourite songs, and he managed to replicate it almost exactly. If anyone can guess what that song is, get in touch and we’ll send you a badge.
8. Julie’s Game
This is a painfully autobiographical song, but is fundamentally just the old adage “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” in song form. It’s a song about realising that you can, eventually, find that strength and use it to make life better after horrible experiences.
9. Organic Cocaine
I was in L.A. a few years ago and on the table behind us was a dog getting a tarot reading. This was in a restaurant where every dish on the menu had an adjective instead a name, so when it came to your table the server would say “You are mindful!” when serving you a salad, or “You are kind” when serving tofu or, as genuinely happened to a mortified looking lady on another table “You are enthusiastic” when serving a burger. This song is about the world that we briefly saw in that restaurant.
10. The Vine And The Vault
I love this song. Am I allowed to say that about a song I wrote? I don’t care… It’s bizarre, it’s personal, it’s fun, and it has guitar lines Brian May would be proud of. Unfortunately we couldn’t access a theramin for the ending, but again Alex worked his magic and we emulated the sound on a synth. This song has also become a live favourite, both for us and the crowds, the end turns into a weird psychedelic tango and is always great fun.
11. Throwing Darts At Maps
Yeah, I love this one too… An unbelievably simple song, but with lyrics that are immediate and heartfelt. It’s just a love song, pure and simple. But it’s a love song about maintaining love through the simple things in life “We’re sitting in a layby with chips upon our knees. Don’t give me California, just give me days like these.”
Lovely stuff.
The band are Will Harris, Dan Mason, Jamie Williams, Simon Buttress and Robin Howson:
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Ioan Humphreys
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