Plastic Barricades: ‘Around the Sun’ – subtly and deftly arranged, written, performed and produced!

With a barrage of Brit indie-pop and alt-rock bands storming onto the scene during the last few years, it’s easy for some to go unnoticed. But such is not the case with the Plastic Barricades, who have made listeners sit up and take notice since the release of “Tree of Ideas” in 2013. Much like a lit stick of dynamite, Plastic Barricades is explosive indie brilliance.

From the single “Shine” and then “Mastermind” , to the follow-up “Needles in Haystacks”  they showed that they can craft clever indie-rock stompers, as well as turn up the intensity and take it to the next level. Yet they still manage to have fun while crafting credible pop tunes, which is evident in the brand new single,  ‘Around the Sun’, supported by a sneaky, ‘sliding doors-type’ video clip.

Founded in Estonia during 2007, and now based in North-West London, Plastic Barricades are Dan Kert on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Daniele Borgato on bass guitar, Jonas Svendsen on lead guitar and Frazer James Webster on drums. Bursting with energy, rhythm and style the now 4-piece band have a fuller, well-rounded sound that has completed their metamorphosis.

They shine in exquisite taste: melodically, lyrically, and instrumentally. Their lyrical genius is something that has moved up a notch too, while the verbal syncopation and phrasing are so unique on this track. Having every bit as much wit, sensitivity and cleverness as any new band on the block, Plastic Barricades throw in an emotional friability expressed rather cleverly in ‘Around the Sun’.

Another good thing here is Dan Kert’s voice. He has one of those earnest indie indie-rock voices that are all the rage these days. But he also knows how to use it. He usually floats over alluringly circuitous melodies, key changes and choruses with an ease bordering on ambivalence – and pulls it off here again. I would imagine that the arrival of Jonas on lead guitar is a sort of liberation for Dan who can now lean his skills more intensely into other parts of the Plastic Barricades’ soundscaping machine.

As if that weren’t enough, the song itself is just great. It manages to be solid indie rock – with all the literate cleverness that it connotes – while maintaining a level of jangly pop accessibility. I guess what makes the whole package – both audio and video – so impressive, comes down to two simple statements.

One, it’s subtly and deftly arranged, written, performed and produced – everything fits together perfectly, and often in clever ways that can surprise you. Two, it’s concise but doesn’t leave anything necessary out, nor is there anything that sounds out of place, stretched thin or rushed. You’ll find yourself humming this song within a week!

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