High Vis – Blending
Reflecting the increasingly uncertain times currently faced in the UK, Blending is a record that is simultaneously angry and euphoric
In increasingly uncertain times in Great Britain, it's no surprise that punk music is seeing something of a renaissance. Not since the austerity of the late 70s and throughout the 80s have we seen tangible anger at the ruling classes and genuine anxiety about how it will affect everyone below. The massive success of IDLES through their simplified-yet-powerful sociopolitical commentary of the UK initiated it. Now, those who have plugged away in the underground are starting to get noticed.
That is very much the case for London's High Vis, whose members have been stalwarts of the UK's hardcore-punk scene for years, but their 2019 debut full-length, No Sense, No Feeling, interjected the jangly new wave/post-punk sound to their ferocity. On their follow-up, Blending, they have expanded their sound one step further, incorporating the baggy psychedelia of the Madchester scene.
Consequently, High Vis has produced a simultaneously angry and euphoric record, guided by vocalist Graham Sayle's retelling of growing up as a northern working class youth, backed by a heady and steadfast band brimming with confidence. Opener Talk For Hours brings Oasis-swagger with an emotional heart, while Fever Dream doubles down on what should be a perfectly timed crossover hit.
Listen to: Talk For Hours, Trauma Bonds, Fever Dream