Single Review: Golden City

Since 2015, Auckland alt-blues rock group The Vibes (formerly named Brendon Thomas & The Vibes) have been gradually building a foundation, and now find themselves making tremendous waves across Aotearoa. Consisting of a trio of talented multi-instrumentalists Brendon Thomas, Timothee Nolier and Michael Anderson, the group have opened for international alt-rock legends Wolfmother, as well as recently wrapping up a nationwide circuit of tours.

With two EPs and a chart-topping single under their belts, the trio have pressed on with a brand new jam, Golden City.

The song begins with a slow, warm, summery guitar shuffle that only Kiwi bands know how to serve up. Lead singer Brendon invites the listener to join him in locating a metaphorical utopia in his brain, illustrating his explorations as “Staring at the light, talking to clouds. What am I going to find? Gonna make this city mine!”

Then, just one verse in, you’re slapped out of nowhere by a loud, beefy blues-rock riff. As quick as it landed, the guitar-driven monster vanishes, and the airy intro passage is back. The guitars and vocals combined bears a touch of psychedelia, particularly during the ganja-infused, crooned verses, and that echoing vocal chuckle which caps off the second verse.

With light grooves held down by bass player Michael Anderson and drummer Timothee Nolier, the song brims and beams with creatively soulful guitar licks. Mr Thomas’s solos and six-string flourishes at the outskirts of each verse are some of the highlights in this single.

But the main selling point of Golden City comes with the bold, soulful drawls of “‘Cause I’m goin’ down, to the land of the free!”. The neatly layered chorus takes your mind sky-high and, before you even know it, you have a cider in your hand and you’re holding it high as a toast to the anthem.

Indeed, this makes for a hugely promising start for The Vibes as their first song of the decade! Be sure to add this to your summer playlist, and stream it on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes and Soundcloud.