Mull It Over 004: Better Late Than Never
Belfast's original indie boys, The Late Twos are back sounding sexier than ever. Plus, Cherym announce dates for 2024.
No hype, no teasers, no social media campaign. For the release of their first single in eight years, Sexier Each Day, Belfast indie princes The Late Twos chose a decidedly un-sexy Friday on a chilly January night to break the news that they were back.
And back they are.
Formed in 2010, The Late Twos packed a lot in before they went on hiatus in 2016. Three EPs and three singles alongside considerable support slots for the likes of Kyle Falconer, General Fiasco, Peace and… S Club?
However, I have it under good authority that the first rule of S Club is we do not talk about S Club. Sorry, bit of a reach, that. OK, let’s bring it all back to The Late Twos.
The first time I saw The Late Twos was in Belfast, upstairs at White’s Tavern in early 2016. Lucky I was, as it would mark the last fully active year for the band for the guts of a decade. Armed with a blistering set of catchy indie tunes indebted to bands like The Libertines and The Cribs, my friend and I looked and each other, only with a knowing look of: ‘finally’.
And then they disappeared.
Kept busy with the particulars of life during their hiatus - “there’s been a couple of weddings and a handful of kids during our time away” offers bass player Ryan Costley, on what the lads have been up to in the years since.
“We’ve just been doing life, I suppose. Setting foundations as everyone does”, said David McMaster, guitarist and now also the man behind the mixing desk.
It’s a welcome take, in an age where it’s easier than ever to record and upload a song or an album from the comfort of your own home, shedding any perception of quality control; I know, as I’ve done it. The guys clearly wanted to take their time, ensuring they were returning with the right songs, at the right time. Of their first release in eight years, Matty Legge, singer and general vibe-bringer for the band told me: “We really think it’s a progression in our sound. There’s something more considered in the record that we’ve not achieved with our previous releases.”
No doubt that is down to the band taking the entire process in-house this time around. At their own studio they have recorded an album’s worth of material over the last few years and promise that Sexier Each Day is just the beginning.
Apparently, the first single to be released in advance of their long awaited debut album, it was in fact one of the first songs they completed all the way back at the beginning of the process. That it still stands up years later as a lead single shows what the song means to the band, and the high regard they hold it in.
“We have a selection of songs we are ready to release for everyone to enjoy, but we are taking our time to make sure we enjoy them also. As we have gotten older, it’s nice to release music we want to write and record, and on our own terms, as a hobby instead of the pressure of a reaction.”
Paired with a cool, suggestive single sleeve, Sexier Each Day is a riot of a tune. Reminiscent of the raucousness of their debut EP, it also shows a maturity that can be heard in follow up work like Sierra Leone. The sound is fuller, supplemented with textures and maintains a level of style that will remind you why The Late Twos were one of the most exciting live bands to come out of Belfast in the 2010s.
Now that they are back and hinting at an album some time in the not-too-distant future, can we expect a gig or tour announcement to coincide with the upcoming release?
“There has always been a desire for us to get on the stage again; we’ve always believed that is where a band should be truly judged. With the release of this new music we’d love nothing more than to showcase it to all of those interested”, they tell me.
Exciting news for fans of fun indie, indie-pop, indie-dance or whatever the NME are calling it these days. Dust off the tight jeans and plimmers, The Late Twos are back and partying like it’s 2010. Except this time, the sound is distinctly 2024.
On Tour
Derry pop-punkers Cherym, whose infectious single of the summer Taking Up Sports had me confusingly check that my car radio was in fact tuned to talkSPORT, have announced a UK and Europe-wide tour in support of their upcoming debut album “Take It Or Leave It”. See below for the only Northern Ireland date, and where you can grab tickets.
Friday, February 9th
[Album Launch Party] Cherym at The Nerve Centre, Derry. Tickets
Thank you for reading Issue 004 of Mull It Over. Things are moving along nicely, with readership increasing week by week. If you enjoy the writing, then please do share on your social media. As always, follow the Spotify playlist below, where I have added the songs featured in this week’s article. There’s not a bad song on it.
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