Setting the tone with a new-wave meets post-punk hybrid soundscape and featuring incredible performances off the bat, Department S open Whistle for the Wind with a charismatic vocal timbre, epic riffs, and an evocative narrative.
The opus, which features Leigh Heggarty slaying on guitar, showcases nothing short of instrumental mastery and demonstrates poetic prowess and metaphorical depth as we are taken on a vivid journey by the talented creators.
Speaking on the profound message of Whistle for the Wind, Department S frontman and chief songwriter Phil Thompson explains, “It’s about having a loved one suffer from dementia.”
The visionary artist continues, “It’s one of those songs about something that happened to me which was all-consuming for a while and eventually it just blurted out in a lyric. It was important that the music reflected the sense of manic loss, confusion and anger in the words. I thought we’d pretty much nailed that but then we let Leigh Heggarty (Ruts DC) loose on it and he absolutely took it to another level.”
The frontman elaborates with reference to the collaboration, “I expected he would probably break out his Les Paul and put a face-melting solo on there. I didn’t tell him what the song was about but, being the intuitive chap he is, he sensed the vibe of the thing and played slide on a cigar-box guitar which had been made by Rat Scabies. It completely captures the “lost at sea” feel we wanted for the song. He then proceeded to play in the same vein over the end of the track to hammer the point home. He did an amazing job.”
We absolutely love the final result, and have added the dimensional and philosophical track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our brand new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Department S‘s wider discography, and anticipate future releases from the band.