“Wait a second: you are telling me that Wotts spent the last few years building a recognizable, lush and eclectic sonic branding, only to throw it all away, jumping into vintage-flavoured poop-rock territories?” – that’s how I quickly reacted to ‘NOT US’. Marking a significant shift in Wotts’ artistic universe, the single sees the Canadian voyagers find a worthy refuge in punchier, slicker indie and pop-rock goodness.
Yet, they are still the same entity we have come to appreciate: boasting vivid, catchy and wholesome lyricism, the Ottawa-based pair still manages to hint at their past, in the form of spacious, evocative vocals and the occasional synth addiction. In fact, especially in the outro, one can easily recognize glimpses of psychedelia, adding mystery and diversity to an already explosive formula. Something fun happens in ‘NOT US’: growing in intensity as it develops, the record becomes progressively more Wotts-like – resembling a habit that won’t go away, no matter how hard one tries.
It’s all for the better: the talented creatives cannot truly negate their kaleidoscopic nature. They can renew it, and that’s what they do, being inspired by The Police, among others. As always, a fusion of tradition and futurism, making for a listening experience that’s vibrant and memorable. Delving deeper into the single, Jayem from Wotts explains: “Over the last year, I’ve become obsessed with The Police. Definitely a left field inspiration in the grand scheme of things, but we couldn’t help but try to channel them in a song or two”.
There’s a larger record in the works, ‘FLANK!’, an EP that no doubt will be adding further allure to an already magnificent project.
Recommended! Discover ‘NOT US’ on Spotify:
