The duo—childhood friends Sam McLeod and Andrew Frazier—horsebread’s latest release, “ontherun,” brings a haunting yet captivating experience that dives deep into addiction and the rocky road to recovery and coping. The band channels a unique blend of Radiohead’s introspective style and Muse’s punchy synth bass into an indie rock track that’s both immersive and thought-provoking.
The song begins with Sam’s lush falsetto, delivered with an ethereal tenderness that contrasts with the deep, buzzing electronic layers. As the guitar lines shimmer and swell, the steady rumbling drums create an almost hypnotic rhythm that gives the song momentum and pulls the listener into an enveloping soundscape. McLeod’s vocals shift from an airy falsetto to a grounded, numbed head voice, reflecting the zooming high highs and coming down to the low lows, shooting headlong into vulnerability and helping the listeners relate to the music.
Towards the end, “ontherun,” builds to an intense crescendo. The falsetto soars and the drums hit with a driving force, creating an atmospheric intensity that leaves a lasting impression. The song’s production leans into a chaotic but artful arrangement, encapsulating the struggle and resolution that horsebread conveys in this moody, layered piece.
If you are into Radiohead and Sufjan Stevens to Warpaint and MGMT, you will easily buy into horsebread and whatever they stand for. Check out “ontherun” and all the other releases they have put out this year on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan