The Murlocs - “Initiative”
The Murlocs’ latest release, “Initiative,” is a welcome dose of retro indie pop. The song has an instantly recognisable late 1960s or early 1970s feel to it, which oozes from every element on the record.
An acoustic guitar provides the song’s cool, shuffling rhythmic foundation, and the deep pumping bass gives the song a real solid pulse. The vintage piano tones contribute to the nostalgic feel. The steady percussion also wonderfully propels the song forward with the addition of claps in the odd place, which enhance the song’s carefree and playful feel. With its gorgeous tones, the lead guitar perfectly supports the song with its classy licks. All of these elements just feel retro and I couldn’t have picked better instrumentation.
The vocal delivery is excellent, and the singer does a fantastic job of giving the song an infectious and unique spirit. The cheerful “la la la” section is a highlight that gives the song a whimsical touch. All I can say is that this is just good, old-fashioned indie pop at its best. “Initiative” is a fantastic piece of music, which gets better the more times you play it.