It’s not often that you find a band that’s named after a video store clerk. Video stores, those things from before Netflix. Miles Recommends isn’t a name you’ll soon forget; the Melbourne five-piece have blended the genres of pop, rock, blues, and even some pop, so create a crunchy, bluesy brooding sound on their latest single ‘Keep it Warm’.
Their third release for 2019, ‘Keep it Warm’ kicks off with a hard-hitting thumping drumbeat and a grungy blues guitar track reminiscent of the style of The Black Keys. Vocalist Lou Cadell’s drawing and hypnotic voice sings out the verse. “I should know, I should know, I should know” she drags out, with backing harmonies carrying the pre-chorus along.
Guitarist and vocalist Des Atkinson’s distinct voice cuts across the track as he calls a response to Cadell’s opening to the chorus “What is gone is gone”. The chorus comes again as the song builds slowly, becoming heavier with climbing, overlapping cries from the band as the guitar and drums lead to the peak of the song: Cadell holding a note over a single acoustic guitar before an intense count-in leads to the song’s final stage.
‘Keep it Warm’ finds a new life in its final stage, racing to a new speed with Atkinson shouting the new lead. Cutting lyrics and unapologetic lead guitars confront the listener. The song’s message is made clear in the simple, repeated final line “It’s darker my friend but you will see the dawn”. The song abruptly ends, the band having reminded the listener not to lose hope.
After an EP release in 2017, Miles Recommends are preparing themselves for the release of their debut studio album. ‘You’re Never Alone’ and ‘Keep it Warm’, the latter being the title track, are the first two singles from the album expected in early 2020.
Forté is also excited to premiere the video clip for the single. Miles Recommends teamed up with Shoot From The Hip Studios to create the accompanying film.
The video adds a whole new vibe to the track; toned footage of worn boots, a warm fire, and finally a sight long forgotten: a VHS tape being played. Majority of the clip is viewed as though it were played from videotape. Subtlety pixelated, with a slight ripple running through the image, the video looks as though it could be found on Rage in the 90s.
Black-and-white footage of the bands’ road-trips, overlayed technicolour footage of Cadell singing, and live footage of their performance come together to create something different to many of the music videos seen today.
Check out the video below.
“Keep it Warm has always had this kind of road trip vibe to it and we literally had just planned a band outing to visit some friends out in Anakie (in regional Victoria) to have a jam when we thought – “here’s our video right here!”. So that’s the video mostly – us driving out to the country to have a jam. And they had a fire to boot – perfect for Keep it Warm,” explains Des Atkinson (Lead vocals/backing vocals/rhythm guitar).
If you’ve enjoyed ‘Keep it Warm’ or want to hear more of Miles Recommends you can catch them at Bowlapalooza at the Thornbury Bowls Club, Melbourne on October 12th.
Written by Thom Devereux
