Establishing the mood with an uplifting and dimensional soundscape, with a glistening soft rock adjacency, Don’t Look Now open Second Time Around with vibrant notions, and the observational lyrics, “It’s funny how the years have not left their mark on you, you’re looking even better now than you used to do…”
From the outset, the track radiates warmth and nostalgia. It instantly situates us in a reflective and optimistic emotional space. The saxophone’s presence is sublime and creates a celebratory and cinematic energy.
We appreciate the intricacy of the composition and the high emotional quotient of the song overall. The prose is laced with authenticity and feels deeply human. It echos the lived experience of a holiday romance in Ibiza that inspired the band’s lead singer, Martin Montague.
Rather than leaning on typical pop clichés, the song expresses emotion through an easy, natural feel. This fits the band’s style of smart, story-based songwriting. It holds a cinematic allure and would be perfect as a sync placement for the recent film, People We Meet on Vacation.
We can absolutely hear influences from bands like The Beautiful South, The Smiths, The Kinks, and Madness, but there is no doubt that Don’t Look Now are manifesting a sonic universe unto their own design.
We learn that Gini Hogarth performs keys, whilst Damian de la Hunty adds backing vocals. The song was recorded at The Dream of Ozwald Studios in Warren Row near Maidenhead and produced by Keith James.
As the lead single from their debut album aptly titled, Like They Do It In The Films, Second Time Around serves as an important release for the band, and it is still their most streamed song!
We have added Second Time Around to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Don’t Look Now, including The Best That Money Can Buy, and The Elephant in the Room, and anticipate future releases from the band.