Mary Strandโs shimmering and nostalgic latest single, โDoes Any of This Really Matter,โ is a psychedelic swirl of existential inquiry wrapped. Departing from her garage and power-pop roots, Strand floats into psych-rock territory with surprising ease. The track, released June 13 via Hygh Tension Records/Virgin Music Group, is a shimmering, introspective preview of her forthcoming album I Donโt Need Your Permission, due this August.
The song opens with comforting guitar strums and sparkly melodies, creating a dreamy yet grounded atmosphere. Strandโs wispy, high-toned voice slides effortlessly through each line, hypnotically unbroken, with a conversational frankness. Her lyrics tackle the passage of time, mental strain, and the universal fear of forgetting who we once were. โYou race to keep up but still fall behind,โ she sings, perfectly embodying the breathless confusion of keeping up with appearances.
The instrumentation is where the song truly blooms. Layered with sitar, Mellotron, and reverse electric guitarโall courtesy of Ryan Smithโthe soundscape bends and swirls like a kaleidoscope. Mark Wadeโs bass pulses underneath like a steady heartbeat while Jack Strandโs drums hold it all together with a hypnotic thump. The bridge lifts into a warmer, melodic space that glides over the thumping rhythm, evoking the weightlessness before being gently grounded again.
With a clear nod to psych-rock classics and a lyrical touch that borrows from literature and philosophy, โDoes Any of This Really Matterโ helps you get lost in sound while quietly asking if being lost might be the point. Listen to it on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan