TAHITI 80 have been around a long time, next year will be their 20th in actual fact. During that time they have released five albums, including last year’s well received The Past, The Present and the Possible. They still tour the world and seem to have a huge following in Japan. They are an indie band who write classic pop songs (Beach Boys, Beatles, Byrds) and Escalator is no exception.
The song uses the escalator as a metaphor for catching up with the past and boy does it hook you in! I can almost see the video now. It feels like a reminisce for a lost love. It is replete with acoustic strum and chiming guitar a la Stone Roses but minus the bombast: "You looked a little older...pull myself together...feel like I’ve just seen a ghost...tomorrow I’ll get up earlier’."
The protagonist is catching his morning train and although he is in motion the world has stopped for him. The rhythm is understated and punctuated with hand clap effect and single toms. Organ fills out the sound. There is nothing showy about this track, everything is subservient to the tune which is catchy as anything. If I were to say it reminded me of anything it would be Bandwagonesque era Teenage Fanclub.
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The single is lovingly packaged and the signed postcard is a nice touch as only the human one can be and bear in mind the 7” single will soon cease to exist. ‘I can only remember how I lost you’. Buy this one now. Love on an escalator.
Tahiti 80 online
WeWant2Wecord online
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