Single Review: Lights Out

In the not so distant past, a Kiwi – Sam Shirley – and a mate from across the ditch – Paul Hutton – teamed up to form Antipodeans and were last heard of signing off in Singapore. At first, I thought they had finally resurfaced but it turns out these Antipodeans, are both Kiwis – Dave Hodgson and Guy McIndoe – who played together in Palmerston North’s infamous Noddy On The Cross (props to the brashly delightful F@ck Off Rugbyhead), but now live on either side of the world.

Antipodeans is more precisely Antipodean, which is how folks in the Northern Hemisphere refer to Australians and Kiwis, with Hodgson now based in Falmouth, England, and McIndoe calling Hutt Valley home.

Lights Out is the first offering from a collaboration that was hatched during the transcontinental lockdown. It’s a big meaty song with some superb guitar work, that rolls ominously along as if it’s about to blossom into a prog rock opus, but instead bobs and swells like a life boat adrift in the ocean.

There’s a slight sign of weariness to the vocals, which isn’t surprising given that the song references “grief, lost love and staying sane during lockdown” but as it unfolds there’s a buoyancy to the song that keeps it afloat.

These guys have come a long way musically since Noddy On The Cross. I’m expecting a few more surprises when they release their album, The Falmouth Tap.