If you were to listen to music in outerspace, this is what I imagine it would sound like. Shifting in and out of focus like strobe lights through dense fog, the lyrics pop with momentary clarity before blending back into a haze of dark dismal elements mixed with galactic electronic tones and twinkling bells. The song becomes increasingly interesting as strange, almost undetected sounds softly echo from buried beneath deep synths.

The first single from The Neighborhood's forthcoming album The Black and The White is much different from what we heard on their 2013 debut I Love You. and excitingly so. Frontman Jesse Ruthford described it as "a diary of songs inspired by thoughts while on the road covering lots of different ground."  He went on to say, "It's our freedom to explore popular music as we know it. It's not just us as a band; it's us at a sound."

Listen to the first glimpse of the California five-piece’s new sound, premiered on BBC Radio 1.

posted by Staff
December 2013