Following their second album New Last Name; released last year; Courting are back with yet another burst of creative guitar music.
Release Date: 14th March 2025
Label: PIAS Recordings
Formats: Vinyl / CD / Digital
NOT YOUR AVERAGE ROCK BAND
First making waves earlier this decade with their catchy post-punk sound, Courting quickly made it clear they weren’t your average rock group. Their 2022 debut album Guitar Music saw the group throw themselves into electronic and pop soundscapes, all while retaining their punk edge. Last year they released their follow up titled New Last Name, an album where they pushed themselves further into this experimental and one-of-a-kind rock sound. New Last Name, whilst polarizing to some, was my personal favourite release of 2024. With the extremely high standard that Courting have set with their innovative previous releases, could they strike gold yet again?
Lust For Life opens with the inviting and delicate Rollback Intro. It sees a repetitive string opening which builds and builds. The song is beautiful yet almost overwhelming in a way. Upon its end, we are launched into Stealth Rollback, a song that I can only describe as quite possibly Courting’s most experimental and daring moment to date. It starts as a dark industrial club track with head knocking breakbeats and wild synths that dart around uncontrollably. It’s a clear sign as to why Courting are so exciting as a band. As the track continues, it swiftly switches into a more sparse electric piano section. This is joined by powerful building drums and discordant shouts from frontman Sean Murphy-O’Neill creating an unforgettable start to the record. It’s an unbelievably inventive moment that achieves so much in its under three minute run time.
PAUSE AT YOU
As the previous song comes to an abrupt end we reach the album’s lead single, Pause At You. A dance-punk rager, it has hints of The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem through its funky, varied percussion and irresistible bassline. However, even with these amazing elements, the instant earworm, euphoric chorus is the highlight of the track. The pace of not only the song itself, but the album as a whole up to this point, feels unstoppable.
The following two tracks Namcy and Eleven Sent (This Time) keep the high energy going, but venture into a more heartfelt and sincere sound. They are simpler moments on the album, yet still stand out as being expertly written and charming throughout. Eleven Sent has my favourite instrumental on the album with the expansive, sprawling piano and gorgeous horns which compliment Sean’s vocal performance. As well as these, the strings in the final chorus stick out as having a glorious presence and serve to round the track out with even more heart.
It’s not long until we are thrown back into the bangers with the distorted After You coming next. The track’s guitar riff drenches the song, bringing a depth and tone not yet seen on the album. The fuzzed vocals and banging drum beat contribute to make the track hit even harder. It’s a short but sweet moment of madness that seems to be over before you even have time to realise.
G-FUNK?
We then reach the album’s centrepiece, the six and a half minute Lust For Life. Starting with minimal bass and trap drums, Sean enters with his autotuned soaked vocals which all compliment each other massively. The almost G-Funk synth lead which enters stands out to me as a fantastic and memorable contribution that gives the song such a hypnotising groove. As it reaches its midway point, the song rises in intensity for a moment of pure catharsis. It leaves the listener wondering where the track could possibly go from here. The answer of which, I feel no one could predict. The song takes a wild turn into an almost americana, country-esque sound. It’s a moment I will never forget hearing for the first time. Whilst initially surprising, it really works and all in all, is the highlight of the album for me.
The album closes with Likely Place For Them To Be, which opens with a hypnotic guitar lead before throwing the listener into the final banger of the album. Special mention to drummer Sean Thomas, who’s rapid fire drum groove at the centre of the track works so well to keep it moving at its exhilarating pace. It shows how the album has no sign of letting up, even as it nears its end. As the final build of the album comes to its climax, the strings from the intro are quickly reintroduced before the song cuts off.
LUST FOR LIFE
Lust For Life is a tight, relentless journey of pure creativity and artistry. Courting have yet again released an album unlike anything you are currently hearing from the UK’s guitar scene. With its wild pace throughout, the album leaves you wanting to restart it as soon as it’s over.
Courting are on tour over the next few weeks. The dates are below and you can find tickets here.
15th March – Leeds – Dark Arts at Belgrave Music Hall
31st March – Newcastle – The Grove
1st April – Glasgow – SWG3 (Warehouse)
3rd April – Nottingham – The Bodega
4th April – Manchester – Gorilla
5th April – Sheffield – Yellow Arch Studio
7th April – Bristol – Thekla
8th April – Birmingham – Mama Roux’s
9th April – London – Oslo
Here’s After You from Courting.
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