Sitting doing my reviews with the sound of the radio in the background, I often hear my new favourite tracks during the day, and immediately I know exactly what it is I am singing along to. However, there has been one track that every time, has caused me to think, what is this again? That is the beauty of the Welsh rockers latest offering, “Dakota,” as the swirly electro riff which opens this
somewhat inventive and somewhat sprightly new wave track. Dakota is nothing like anything the phonics have done in the past. An eighties electro tinged track, makes you dream of sweltering summer days, throwing your bulky winter clothes off for another season in the sun, and helps you drift off to scenes of driving down a steaming highway in a sweltering car with the roof down, and naturally the radio on. It is not until you get to the thrashy chorus, with Kelly’s familiar raw vocals and pounding riffs taking a hold of you that you realise, oh yeah! It’s the phonics. A welcome note for long-standing fans, as the Phonics give us something radio friendly without bowing down to the mainstream, and also give those a little bored with the indie-rock formula a fresh taste in the mouth.
