Perfectly polished alt-pop
Northern National’s newest single, ‘Love Is Fire’, is about to drop and it’s a pure alt-pop gem. It’s the type of polished sound that only comes along once in a while, drawing immediate comparisons to the likes of The Script.
The track is the definition of contemporary pop. While it sounds completely organic and natural, whether consciously or unconsciously, the band have slipped into a very formulaic pop format. Three minutes long, straightforward and constant drums that underpin a staccato-heavy guitar section that is understated enough to catch the ear without drawing too much attention to itself. Vocally, it’s perfectly delivered and crafted with ideal melody to get lodged in your head for days on end.
The perfect formula of the track almost works against itself. Lyrically, it’s impossible for anybody to question the strength of sentiment for the vocalist. It’s a lovestruck song and the vocal delivery is nothing if not heartfelt and earnest. However, the polished pop automatically calls a question of genuinity of the piece.
Of course, as a listener it’s hard to question the excellency of ‘Love Is Fire’. Whatever you feel of the splendidly shaped pop of it, it’ll still be in your head for quite some time.
