Another slice of quality from Desperate Journalist comes in the form of Afraid. Their build towards the upcoming album No Hero has been paved with pleasant surprises and this second single is no exception. A bass-reliant groove leaves its mark and the obvious tones come through, powered by a defiant Jo Bevan performance. Push people away, remain alone and afraid. It conjures all the usual thoughts but where Desperate Journalist excels is in their dedication to this attitude as a personable torture. There is a need for isolation in every walk of life and the instrumental bliss of Afraid brings on a hope of time alone. Just a few minutes, more to enjoy this latest release than to muse on anything. Turn off your brain for a bit, click it back on to engage the charms of Afraid, and then knock it back off.
A fear of dedication and commitment fuels Afraid and the lyrical consistencies found within are a real joy. Joy may not be the right word for a track filled with heartbreak and self-hate, but the loving endurance found within is a neat contrast. Desperate Journalist hits the balance right and acknowledges the fear found in commitment. They do so with their usual stylishness and effective way of alternative rock charm. A guitar section towards the end of the song is a welcome break and Afraid has all the makings of a storming live track. Hear more of that on the impressive J.T Soar release from a few years back – it is a definitive introduction to a band who were opening for Suede this time last year.
Desperate Journalist is kicking on with a continuation and overhaul of the alternative rock feel. It can be heard from the get-go with Afraid. Their bass riff is as cool and slick as needed and their instrumental charm lingers throughout. What it gives the band is another reason to be confident of their upcoming work. No Hero may be a ways off but Afraid and Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2 have all the commotion and buzz needed to thrive. They are exceptional works with exceptional performers behind them. Few bands are continuing to push the fold of the genre, fewer will have the long-running impact Desperate Journalist is providing. Their earlier works are clear indicators of this and No Hero, so far, appears to be heading for the same seismic impact.
Fingers crossed then. No luck needed for those signing of the heartbreak involved in an inability to commit when you want to. It is a long and arduous process which Afraid captures well in its alternative rock style. A charming yet brutally honest experience which brings out the very best in the band as an instrumental force. Keep this one burning as you wait for the album. Desperate Journalist would do well to huddle around this one – it marks one of their most intense and open tracks so far. This is the joy of peddling a new hope in the genre, of combusting and reacting as they see fit. A warm track with brutal connotations floated through and handled very well by the band.
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