Bird On The Wire Presents | Beach Baby

Bird On the Wire Presents |

In 2016, Beach Baby released their acclaimed debut album, No Mind No Money. Wistfully documenting mid-20’s malaise, and splicing the post-punk stylings of 80’s indie with the dreamy organ sounds of Beach House, the record quickly joined the multi-million streaming club, enjoyed firm support from the likes of Lauren Laverne and Annie Mac, and resulted in extensive UK and US touring.

But whilst the first album was recorded over an intensive two-month period in a cushy studio in East London, the process for the follow-up would be…different. With money very thin on the ground, studio-time wasn’t an option. There was only one way: the band would do it themselves. Galvanised by two promising new demos from co-vocalists and songwriters Ollie Pash and Lawrence Pumfrey, the band repaired to the ‘summerhouse’ (read, shed) at the bottom of drummer Shep Hodgson’s garden, and converted it into a makeshift studio. It was the start of 2017. The ‘Beast from the East’ was just around the corner. It was cold. Everyone was still working an inventory of crap jobs. But it was a start. And there was life in the old dog yet…

Only two and a half years later (!!)—and Lovin’ Feeling is the first song to emerge from this long and chilly period of hibernation. Remarkably self-assured, the song sees the band move away from the 80’s and 90’s influences that informed their debut, towards a looser, groovier sound, inspired by 60’s and 70’s pop music. Featuring a deliriously catchy saxophone melody, a smattering of congas and some very funky wah-guitar, Lovin’ Feeling is still characteristically melancholic – but it’s also supple, sleazy and salacious –and more than a touch 70’s. It’s sad, but it makes you want to party. Possibly in a dagger-collared shirt and a pair of sunglasses. Yeah man.

With AWAL on board, and a hot mix from Nathan Boddy (Shame, James Blake), the song marks both the start of a next chapter, and the beginning of a weirdly wonderful, surreally subterranean…world. But more on that later.