The Velvet Hands share new single ‘Star’
The self-proclaimed garage-rockers with support slots for the likes of Liam Gallagher and Paul Weller in their arsenal come back with a banger
In one of their new promotional photos for the single I spot an Oasis logo t-shirt, the comparisons aren't lost on listeners with the swagger, intensity and melodic hooks of their inspiration being honoured in full here. I suppose that comes with being handpicked to support Liam Gallagher by the man himself, the Rock and Roll Star.
This track, Star, opens with a flaring electric guitar that sets the tone of the song to come. The drums follow suit with the songs relatively short running time of 2:26 benefitting all the more from the throttling sense of pace derived from the pounding double-time snare, hi-hat and kick groove provided from said drumkit.
The vocals and bass guitar swing in with the same energy; the warm and fuzzy (pun possibly intended) tone of the bass lilting back and forward between chord tones underline the stylistically slurred and heavily accented vocals of the lead singer excellently as the song kicks down the doors into the chorus.
The main hook burrows its way into the brain and the subtle flourishes of brass and surprisingly Ariana Grande-esque backing vocals are appreciated in the first chorus as they are when gracing the rest of the track; they grow in scope as it goes and it certainly does go.
The guitar is placed centre stage three-quarters of the way into the track for an instrumental section, being supported by smart and fun production and an ever-evolving, Darwinian drum groove into the last chorus which it sets up nicely.
The song ends with its final chorus, its strong hook leaving you wanting more, ready for another play or a tap of the repeat button.
With a debut album already under their belts, we reckon 2021 might just be the year Cornwall quartet The Velvet Hands reach new heights.
