Track: Sunshine

If there’s one question answered by the 13-year wait for a new Cordrazine single it’s this: what did we lose when they broke up? The churlish answer might look at singer Hamish Cowan’s inconsistent solo dance record from many years ago and offer the rejoinder: not much. But ‘Sunshine’ suggests quite the opposite. Engineered around a string section masquerading as a cascading summer shower and acoustic guitars lightly skipping through the overflow, it’s a thing of simple beauty; a joy forever.

They just might avoid those insistent Jeff Buckley comparisons this time too, with Cowan’s voice, whether through age or dexterity, carrying a refreshing earthiness. Hysterical ululating falsettos have been jettisoned, and quite rightly too. But what remains is far more enduring: memorable melodies, a deft lyrical sketch of everyday struggle and the acknowledgment that life has both a minor and a major key.

If it ultimately leaves more questions than it answers (Is there still an audience for them? Can they make a record with similar strengths?), it’s a testament to the success of ‘Sunshine’ that, after 13 years, we’re still listening.