Within the music video for his or her grinding new single “S.O.S.,” The Wheel Employees provide a full-bodied pop/rock response to the pessimism that has run rampant in popular culture not too long ago. There aren’t any linguistic clouds within the sky right here, nor are there any obscure references to the politics and purist lyricism which have left us in division far too usually previously few years; there’s solely music, and the masterful artists bringing it to life. The Wheel Employees is made up of veteran gamers with robust various acumen, and whether or not you’re an expert music critic like myself or only a informal radio fan, I feel you’re going to note the expertise that they bring about into the studio with them on this beautiful new single/video combo.

The rhythm on this observe accentuates nearly each part of the melody, beginning with the string components. On some degree, I feel that the grooves add to the physicality a lot in the way in which that the visuals contribute to the accessibility of the content material general. There’s nothing fallacious with delivering one thing on the nostril if you recognize what you’re doing, and fortunately for music connoisseurs all over the place, The Wheel Employees have a great grasp of what sort of materials they need to stamp their moniker on. This isn’t a simple piece of music in any respect, however they nonetheless make it sound like a easy, black-and-white pop tune simply the identical, save for the layered extravagance inside the concord within the refrain, that’s.

“S.O.S.” most likely didn’t want as a lot of a bassline presence because it was afforded, however I feel that the imagery within the music video does a great job of compensating for such beauty inefficiencies as far and few in-between as they’re. There isn’t something in regards to the video or the one by itself that I’d deem offensively excessive; in reality, that is really one of many extra inspiring new songs I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing within the 12 months 2023. In each darkish occasions and the brightest of days, music like this will make all of the distinction on the earth in relation to getting individuals on the identical web page, and on this respect, The Wheel Employees’ timing couldn’t have been any higher.

Sturdy and righteously untethered to the camp of typical works that toe the road of experimentalism, indie rockers can’t go fallacious with “S.O.S.” in the meanwhile. I simply began listening to The Wheel Employees only in the near past, but when that is the type of music that they plan on divvying out to the plenty sooner or later, I’m planning on sticking round for extra of their work. There is no such thing as a scarcity of indie artists popping out of the shadows in 2023, however among the many extra aesthetically streamlined teams that I’ve come throughout, these guys are one of many extra promising crews to be releasing new music this season. I like what I hear, and after you’re taking a peek on the music video for this observe, I feel you’ll share my sentiments.

Mindy McCall