Newcastle-based Central Arcade’s new song ‘Shining Sea’ is set to release on November 7th, and I was lucky enough to get an early glimpse of the upcoming release.
Central Arcade say the tune was drawn from ideas of hope, of renewing a connection with past love. From the second the opening bass riff hits, the song radiates this feeling, with an array of shimmering guitar parts creating this sense of optimistic longing.
The aforementioned guitars may be the standout part of the track, with clear inspiration from the guitar work of new wave and alternative rock groups such as The Cure.
However, this inspiration never tips over into being derivative, as the song’s vocal delivery and structure makes it seem like a more modern take on this style. The song also features two impressive solo guitar sections, adding variation to the track whilst reaffirming the sense of longing.
The lyrics similarly help to establish the key themes the band were aiming for, with the continued motif of watching out at the sea, evoking this sense of unknowing, but also optimism. For me, the second verse’s focus on the colour imagery of ’emerald green’, and the religious elements of ‘holy water, hanging rosary beads’, add a needed personalisation, halting the song from ever becoming too vague.
Equally as impressive is the general sound quality of the track, with as good a display of mixing and layering as you’d ever expect to hear from an up and coming band. This is perhaps most clearly seen in the slight reverb on the excellent lead vocal, but the track as a whole is expertly produced.
Overall, this is sure to be a standout song for the band, so be sure to check out ‘Shining Sea’ on streaming platforms when it releases on November 7th.
