Hot, Fresh Jangle Pop "With Sharp Elbows" from the UK
Project Overload Kills It With A Brilliant Sophomore Effort
I’m always looking for more jangle-pop and power-pop. Though I’m always discovering obscure older releases, when it comes to new ones, the Tubs’ Cotton Crown from last year was a sure standout. Lately though, other than that record, nothing has been scratching the itch.
That might change with Coventry-based Project Overload’s second release, the self-titled follow up to their 2024 album, New Beginnings. The British five-part group puts out an 11-track release has several spectacularly catchy moments, while featuring jaw-dropping harmonies, jagged guitars, rollicking bass licks, and some cool drum grooves. If that’s not enough, their young age is also impressive.
Yes, it’s only a number, but there’s a reason Project Overload is good at writing about the high school themes of power/jangle pop, like lightning-quick romances, trying to uphold friendships, and trying to write what you mean in a text to a friend. It comes naturally here because it’s top of mind, as well as authentically throughout this release.
One of the most noticeable aspects of Project Overload is the band’s catchy melodies, charging forth from either lead vocalist Emily Birtwistle or Lucas Male, and how they intersect with creative and electric harmonies. They often go to places you don’t expect, building diverse walls of sound on top of the already impressive layering of the other instrumentation. Producer Mason Le Long, who worked with the group on their last album, New Beginnings, again lends his hand here on the production. It’s clear that the band appreciates him, with guitarist Lucas Male saying he’s “encouraged” them to “experiment and stretch themselves” and Le Long has “done us proud.”
Look no further than album opener “Waiting for Nothing to Happen” for an example of what to expect on Project Overload’s latest. Tom and Lucas Male’s layered crunchy guitar riffs and notes ring against Lucas’s vocals while Callum Hall’s steady bass riffage and Joe Friday’s straight-ahead drum beats pulse the song ahead. In the tune, Lucas sings about a relationship, and the agony that comes with what to do next after sending a text:
"Staring at my ceiling, waiting for nothing to happen/ The bustling streets and the dazzling heat/ Makes time go slow in the summer”
The way Lucas sets the scene is effective, and you can easily envision a time where you’ve been waiting for your phone to chime, because maybe — just maybe — they’ll get back to you. The lyrics work well to strongly portray what it feels like to text in a relationship, and when it’s coupled later by Birtwistle’s harmonies, the track is sure to send a chill up your spine.
The following track “Wildfire" is another standout — this time for the impressive soundscape the band creates. Hall’s funky basslines and Friday’s heavy drumbeats provide a perfect groove for Lucas and Tom Male’s jangling guitar riffs to dance on top. Birtwistle’s vocal melodies here are addictive, reminiscent of the best of Blondie’s Parallel Lines. Producer Le Long adds some interesting keyboard bits that give enjoyable textures to the piece. However, it’s when you reach the end of tune, you’re likely to be blown away. The harmonies become intense and unique, capping off in a climax that’s sure to be revisited again and again.
“Groovy,” which follows, is another high-energy indie rocker about an unwanted romantic advance utilizing surf-rock layered guitars and Birtwistle’s assured tones. “Silhouettes” shifts the speed to a slower, introspective ballad that’s likely to positively remind you of several indie acts like Two Door Cinema Club and Vampire Weekend. These influences, along with the Sundays, occur in other places on the album, from “Watch Me Try” to “Late Night Dancing.”
That said, the best tracks by Project Overload is when the band just…goes for it and really pushes themselves. Look to “Bite My Tongue” for the perfect example, as heavy droning guitars and a punk beat become a racetrack for Birtwistle’s vocals to zoom down, up, back, and around. Though the wall of sound can often become intense, it fits the topic of the song effectively. A meditation on anxious thoughts, it’s impeccably sound:
“I’m getting closer to the edge, my patience is at an end/ Your empty voices scream in my ear/ My mind’s overloaded, I just want it to clear.”
Overall, it’s clear that Project Overload’s second release is a record worth spinning. The group has grown quite a bit from their first album New Beginnings in both complexity of songwriting as well as their sound. If you’re in the mood for bright jangly pop with just enough “indie vibes” to keep you going, this is the stuff. Don’t be afraid to “overload” the cup.
Check out Project Overload’s latest release here on Bandcamp, along with their other releases.
And hey — if you’re an artist with a cool new release and you want me to hear it, send me a line at hopebillhelps@gmail, will you?