SINGLE REVIEW: Bonk! – Preserve

The best named band around are back once more. Last month saw north west jazz rock outfit Bonk! release their second single, ‘Wave’, which I reviewed positively here. Now, the band return with what is considered a fan favourite at their acclaimed live performances.

A far cry from the delicate whimsy of their previous single, ‘Preserve’ is infused with psychedelic and progressive ideas, evolving and shifting restlessly across the span of just over four and a half minutes; it’s simply baffling that the band manage to make this feel far more like a 10 minute monolith, packed with electrifying musical moments that are guaranteed to ensnare the listener.

Truly, ‘Preserve’ takes the listener on a journey, kicking off with a central guitar riffs that wavers with dissonance and raw energy, before plunging into a verse that showcases some truly ferocious vocals set against a backdrop of rattling percussion. A stunning, eerie keyboard performance collides with the reappearance of that central scorching riff, before spiralling outwards into a dreamy spoken word passage, in turn ushering in a blistering guitar solo.

It’s truly a mesmerising, magnetic performance, each member of the band manoeuvring around one another in a complex musical dance to produce something that sounds disconcertingly monumental; at first it’s hard to believe that this is the same band that produced a jovial and clumsy love song with bicycle bells included as an instrument, but then when you truly think on it… it’s not that surprising at all.

Bonk! may seem like a quirky and playful outfit, and truly, this is an important part of their charm. But don’t let it make you believe for a single second that these aren’t talented, ambitious, and serious musicians, with a capacity to not just produce music that will get you dancing your cares away, but also to make you just a little awestruck. ‘Preserve’ may well end up being a true musical gem of 2024.

You can listen to Bonk!’s new track ‘Preserve’ on streaming services on 16/02/24. You can presave the track on Spotify here.

For Fans Of: Thank You Scientist, The Dear Hunter, Closure In Moscow, The Reign Of Kindo

Featured photo credit belongs to @teperishnye.

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Instagram // Spotify // Twitter