Corduroy. release brand new 70’s inspired disco dance anthem ‘Spaceships (If I Came Back Again)’

Spaceships (If I Came Back Again) is the second single from Corduroy.’s upcoming EP. Corduroy. are a young six piece band from Wellington, currently riding the high of a successful 10 stop tour in support of the release of Poor Mans Velvet EP. Their sound is eclectic and constantly evolving, traditionally amalgamating the genres of pop, alt rock, and Neo Soul. However, on Spaceships, the outfit has branched out from their pop roots, crafting a slinky old school Disco feel, akin to the likes of bands such as Chic or Parliament Funkadelic. 

The track starts with force, with a minimal yet self-assured guitar and bass riff, slowly but surely driving through the progression. As this pans out further with added synth layers, saxophone stabs, and lush guitar chords, lead vocalist Rosie Spearing is gliding at pace through expertly crafted lyrics in a rap like intonation. Her soulful voice dissects the complexities of outgrowing a place you once felt so comfortable, and feeling like an outsider for doing so. The outlook on this feeling is ambiguous, focusing on the feeling of leaving your hometown for the big smoke, or, alternatively, the struggles of leaving a relationship even though you know it’s for the best.

The choruses open up sonically, with Guitar, Bass and Saxophone locking in tight, as drummer Rafe Swan’s disco drum beat steers the ship. All the while there is a squelchy lead synth riff swimming on top, providing a satisfying countermelody to the vocals.

For the bridge section, guitarist Will Cole takes the reins on lead vocals. The bridge begins sparsely, to create space for the vocals, but slowly builds tension which is suddenly released with a whole band chant- “But You’ll Come Back Again!”. From this climactic moment in the song, comes the last chorus, which sounds rich, and is buzzing with a vibrant funky energy. 

Overall, Spaceships is Corduroy’s refreshing take on  the 1970’s disco era, which is seamlessly paired with their own pop influence. The production and tones on the instruments are tastefully balanced, and the vocals provide an audibly exciting insight into the feeling of being an outsider in a place that was once so comfortable. With a 5 track EP on the horizon, we are at the edge of our seats to see what Corduroy. have to offer us next!

NB: All tracks on Poor Man’s Velvet EP, including Spaceships, were produced and mixed by Morgan Allen at Depot Sound Studios in Auckland.