SINGLE REVIEW: tenmonthsummer – listening to kerosene heights makes me want to be a better person

Chicago emo outfit tenmonthsummer have already released one EP this year, the beautifully hopeful ‘your name is my ocean’, yet the momentum shows no signs of stopping. Sincerity and community are both key facets of tenmonthsummer’s creative ethos, and they promise to come to life on their upcoming record, ‘midwestern haikus’, with a focus on “acoustic guitars and banjos”.

The title of this lead single is inspired by the sentiment that we are often too slow to appreciate those that are still around, and pays homage to the wonderfully spirited pop-punk of North Carolina’s Kerosene Heights. It translates well into the delicate lyricism, acknowledging the unintentional damage we may cause in our lowest moments, and reminding ourselves that it is never too late to turn things around.

Simple elements are brought together in a manner that is undoubtedly beautiful, as acoustic guitars carve out buoyant melodies, rounded out by the sharp twangs of banjo and minimalist yet sturdy bass work. Vocal melodies are kept grounded in a plaintive lower register, and work almost in a round format, as the track loops back to the start for the second half but now with rousing harmonies that land like sunbeams.

Despite the change in musical palette, ‘listening to kerosene heights makes me want to be a better person’ feels wholly natural for tenmonthsummer; it is hard to believe that the outfit haven’t been a folk band for their entire existence. There are few bands that can convey a sense of fragile optimism quite like this five-piece, and if this lead single is anything to go by, ‘midwestern haikus’ could be a truly magical EP.

For Fans Of: The Oh Hellos, saturdays at your place, Topiary Creatures, Noise Beneath The Floor, Home is Where

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram