We previously featured The House Flies when they took us on a subversive and haunting trip with Sweet Foxhound, so when we found out that the band was back with Derelict Crawl, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Derelict Crawl opens with a dark wave sensibility with emotive guitar and immersive percussion. The instrumental mastery is prevalent, as always, and we love the metaphorical lyrics that manifest. The vocal delivery is delicate and poetic for the first verse before a bold expansion into a dynamic intermission before a captivating and cerebral chorus.
The second verse brings back the situational approach to songwriting, as we understand the wider perspective of the song. In essence, Derelict Crawl is a song about alienation, disconnection, and the feeling of being caught somewhere in between notions of movement and collapse.
The track moves through images of dial tones, worn leather, summer heat, and physical deterioration. It creates a sense of trying to find a place in an environment that no longer feels habitable. We deeply vibe with the quieter passages, especially the lengthy guitar interlude, which create space for the song’s unease to settle in. The ebbs and flows, expansions and contractions are sublime and still cohesive.
For some context, the four-piece band hails from Moline, Illinois, featuring vocalist and guitarist Alex Riggen, guitarist Burnie Eckhardt, bassist Ozzie Woods, and drummer Nick Pompou. We learn that Derelict Crawl serves as the first House Flies single to introduce the current lineup ahead of the band’s second full-length album, Lions and Ore.
The recording was mixed by Ross Mixes and mastered by Michael Briggs, with artwork and design by Riggen. The band deliberately chose the song as an introduction to the new record, with Alex explaining, “We kept coming back to this one as the first song to release and show a glimpse into the new album.” He adds that the track contains “some of the record’s weight and repetition without giving away too much of what comes later.”
Needless to say, we are in awe, and cannot wait to hear the full album in November. In the meantime, we have added Derelict Crawl to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of The House Flies, including She Hums Mozart, and Queen Underground.