Swedish pop band Marching Band is in full court with their new album,
So Much Imagine. One single they're pushing is "And I've Never Seen," previously included in last year's
And I've Never Seen Anything Like That EP. The track remains a standout here.
Some might dismiss it as derivative Arcade Fire, but I don't think that's fair, or accurate. At its best, "And I've Never Seen" almost feels like something off a John Hughes soundtrack. Deceptively catchy, the song's chorus and melody sneak up on you, daring you to resist their charms. The beat is playful yet angsty, lending to an immersive vibe that is familiar without sounding formulaic.
But it's guitar work that really defines "And I've Never Seen," complementing the band's sense of new beginnings and life's possibility. It's harmless, reinvigorating pop.
Perhaps the most interesting part of "And I've Never Seen" comes in the song's final moments. Near 3:30, the beat rapidly picks up, swelling in crescendo before coming to an abrupt halt. But, lest you think the song is done, a series of drums slyly begin to kick in. The choice is refreshing, and fully justifies the hints of nostalgia which permeate the track.
"And I've Never Seen" lingers like a breath mint on the soul.