It seems that the demise of guitar music has been greatly exaggerated.
With their debut album ‘Nothing Hurts’, Male Bonding seemed to re-energise the (mainly London based) indie scene. Fusing classic American alt rock with a very British sensibility, the record became a touchstone for countless new groups.
Containing the guitar attack of Husker Du, Male Bonding also had the same oddball charm which rippled through Pete Shelley era Buzzcocks. Passed from fan to fan, ‘Nothing Hurts’ seemed to take on a life of its own.
Disappearing to the United States, work began on the band’s second album last year. Faced with emulating a debut offering which had a real emotional impact, Male Bonding secluded themselves away on upstate New York.
Working in a converted 19th century church, the band teamed up with producer John Angello. Announcing their second album, ‘Endless Now’ is set to drop later this month and promises to have a real pop edge.
Slightly more polished than their debut, the songs simply demand better production. Clocking in at a mere 36 minutes, the brisk new album feels a lot longer with Male Bonding packing a lot of new ideas into the record.
Previews are coming thick and fast, with latest cut ‘Tame The Sun’ demonstrating where the band’s head is at. Male Bonding have not surrendered the sound of their debut, but they have progressed with ‘Endless Now’ the logical second step from one of the country’s most promising guitar groups.
Listen to it now… Grab it HERE.