We last featured STREAMER for tapping into an atmospheric, emotive, and anthemic frequency in time for their upcoming Glastonbury set with The Island, so when we heard that the band was back with Unleashed, we couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Unleashed opens with a soft pulsating beat crescendo expanding into a glistening guitar soundscape featuring the lyrics, “Light the bonfire, catch a flame, take it inside and let it rain, take my hand to a place you know, take it somewhere to feel at home…”. We immediately connect with the metaphorical and philosophical energy that manifests.
The production and instrumentation is pristine, as always with STREAMER. The brooding whispered vocals are sublime and love the build of the track with subtle ethereal harmonies and a trance-EDM rise, evolving into a boundless festival-ready vibe. The track is anthemic and aligns perfectly with its title, as we truly feel unleashed.
There is something super cathartic about the sonic experience. We are invited into a liberated, hedonistic universe. The cosmic synth arpeggios before the second verse and detailed throughout are a nice touch, alluding to notions of ascension, which feels highly apt considering the subject matter of the song.
In essence, the message of Unleashed is about letting go, surrendering to the moment, and allowing ourselves to feel free. The message feels zeitgeist and delivered at a time when we, as a collective, need it the most. The repeated lyrics, “This makes me feel, this makes it real, this makes me feel unleashed…” really capture that feeling of breaking away from restraint.
Tom, Jez and Freddie create a sound that feels unique and deliver a cohesive journey fusing indie rock and dance music. That genre-expansive nature is what makes the band truly visionary. We could easily imagine this track erupting during a late-night sequence in Euphoria, Skins, or Bodies Bodies Bodies. It could also land a sync placement in a show like Industry.
Their influences may point towards Underworld, Faithless and The Chemical Brothers alongside Pink Floyd and Coldplay, but Unleashed is a masterpiece unto its own design. We learn that the track serves as the final release from STREAMER’s Is This Love EP.
Needless to say, we are in awe of STREAMER once again, and we have added Unleashed to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the entirety of the EP in full.