Scottish band The Planet Hour strut a compelling rock sound throughout their new single “Gutpunch!” — representing the project’s first foray into using electric guitars. This more rock-forward stylistic direction thoroughly succeeds here, following an initial acoustic-forward embrace on earlier releases. With a variety of live shows and another upcoming single in “Nothing More To Say,” The Planet Hour’s momentum is palpable.
Trickling guitar twangs drive seamlessly into a calmly melodic vocal confidence. “Another gut punch,” they begin, adding “I’m gonna need a medic to walk it off.” Singer/guitarist Jamie Taylor notes that the track was written while the roof to his house was leaking — and certainly, in the lyrics and escalating vigor, there’s a sense of navigating through personal strife. “Let’s take a moment to recognize this mess,” the vocals continue during a magnetic hook, melding a modern indie-rock punch with shades of Elvis Costello in the vocal tone. “Gutpunch!” is a hard-hitting success from The Planet Hour.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
