Manchester alt-pop-punk 5-piece Midnight Swim make their presence felt.  ‘Power’ and ‘pop’ are in plentiful supply on the band’s self-titled debut album.

THE THOUGHTS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT…

Manchester alt-pop-punk quintet Midnight Swim came together in 2023. Vocalist Jack Valentine and guitarist Danny Heaton decided that their previous project had run out of steam and it was time to try something new.  The lineup was completed by the addition of Matt Lunn (guitar), Matty Ashton (bass) and Liam Clough (drums). And, having assembled, the guys bonded immediately over their shared love for the sounds of the early 00s alternative scene that they were immersed in.

Citing the likes of Paramore, The Band Camino, Don Broco and others as their formative influences, the band added a modern production twist and alt-pop sensibilities. They were ready to go!  The guys are all prolific writers – so much so that, when they were finalizing their plans for a debut EP, they realized that they’d accumulated enough quality material for a full-length album.  They called on the services of producer Callum Benson at Sheffield’s Steel City studio, and off they went…

CENTRAL THEME

Midnight Swim describe the central theme of their album as: “The thoughts that keep you up at night – the memories that play themselves back in the small hours, from our regrets to the most amazing moments of our lives.”  Vocalist Jack Valentine explains further: “It definitely has some deep cuts but what I enjoy about the writing process is allowing moments to be explored deeper, or even dramatized.  I’m not saying the tracks on this record aren’t a personal reflection on things, as there’s very much a lot of me in there, but it’s been fun to play out some themes like an actor taking new meaning to the roles.”

POP-EDGED EARWORM

Midnight Swim set out their agenda from the very outset.  A burst of phased guitar introduces the choppy power pop of opening track, Tease.  The verses pack a real punch, and the band let rip through both barrels for the song’s “One more time for old time’s sake” chorus.  The sound is tight and frenzied, and it remains so for Play It Cool (Wanting More).  Liam’s drums splutter like a machine gun as Jack sings with passion and urgency.  The guitars fizz, and there’s just enough electronic wizardry in play to keep it interesting but not overpowering.

If At The Barrier awarded a prize for the longest song title of the year, it would be offered, right now, to Midnight Swim for the memory-challenging Shaking You From My Feelings Would Be Easier if You Were Dead.  It’s the second of three singles to precede the album and it’s been described as a “Pop-edged earworm.”  I reckon that’s a fair summary. Jack fires out the lyrics as Danny’s and Matt’s guitars churn and chime. The song is a slice of classic late 70s power pop – and, believe me, both ‘power’ and ‘pop’ are in plentiful supply. 

‘JUST GET OFF’

Lead single Don’t Wanna Talk About It bemoans the sad state of the world and expresses a desire to ‘just get off.’  “We started this one with (guitarist) Matt playing the riff and we knew we wanted to lean into a heavier sound for it,” says Jack.  “We also didn’t want to follow the usual structure, which isn’t something we’d really done before, and we wanted to keep the outro of the song as something that just kept growing.”  The song is certainly a room-shaker, as guitars and drums match the hysteria of Jack’s scream-pitch vocals.  And, to round things off, Matty chips in with an interesting bass solo.

A SHOW OF VERSATILITY

The musical point of reference is moved forward five years to around 1984 for the synth-dominated In the Rain, By the Car.  Local songwriter Shannon Gilespie guests on vocals and she brings with her a degree of melodicism.  “We’d always talked about having a ‘feature’ on the album and Matt and Matty have known Shannon for a while, so they suggested she’d be a great addition,” explains Jack.  It was certainly an inspired choice; the song brings a vivid new shade to the album and it’s a standout track.

Razor-sharp guitar riffs call the shots for Sinners.  Jack’s vocals sit lower in the mix for this one, but his passion is undiluted, especially as he screams: “Maybe I’d be better off six feet underground.”  And Midnight Swim continue to show their versatility as they move on to Bend and Break. It’s a power ballad, with punk energy thrown in for free.  The guitars are as solid as ever and there’s a piano in there somewhere, but it’s Liam’s drums that provide the drive behind Jack’s impassioned vocals.

Powerfully Melodic

Crisp drums and Matt’s clangy bass supply the intro to Push Back, a poppy foot-tapper.  Poppy?  I suppose so, even with Jack’s intense vocals and grungy guitars that soar above the: “I try to tell you how I’m feeling but all you ever do – push back” chorus.  But pure punk is seldom far below the surface of Midnight Swim, and it comes up for air with Don’t You Want to Get Away.  I say ‘pure punk…’ – the pulsing guitars and the solid drumbeat are certainly present and correct. But the deviations from the mandatory 4/4 rhythm indicate that Midnight Swim have more in their arsenal than just three chords and an attitude.

Deaf Havana vocalist James Veck-Gilodi guests on The Last Song I’ll Write About You. His inclusion is another inspired piece of casting.  The song is the album’s poppiest and most accessible by some distance.  The band are tight and powerfully melodic and guest James puts everything he has into his vocal delivery.  And, speaking of accessibility, the power ballad, Fade, is another song that immediately hits the spot.  There’s a slight Waterboys-like Celtic edge to the song; Jack delivers his clearest and strongest vocal and the guitars are majestic.  As, and when, Midnight Swim get to play their first stadium gig, Fade will be a shoo-in for their set…

FUN, SACCHARINE SINGALONG?

And the poppy angle is retained for closing track, Like You Love To.  The clean, punchy tune is underpinned by Matty’s rumbling bass and Liam’s driving drumbeat – and Jack delivers another clean, intense vocal.  I suspect it’s already a live show favourite; if it isn’t, it soon will be.

I’m not quite sure that I agree with vocalist Jack when he describes Midnight Swim as: “… a fun, saccharine, singalong record,” but I understand where he’s coming from.  And he certainly does have a point when he expresses his hope that people will relate to the tracks on an emotional level. “I’m sure the subject matter on the record is something that people can relate to at some point in their lives,” he says.  “I hope that comes across when people listen to it.  Worst case scenario – they’ll definitely just get the melodies stuck in their heads!”

Watch the official video to The Last Song I’ll Write About You – a track from the album – below:

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