Wasting little time in exploding out of its starting blocks, “Man of the Hour” is the latest single from Wigan quartet Fletchettes. Built around buzzsaw riffs and a chunky bottom end, it harbours echoes of bands such as Reverend and the Makers or The Enemy, but rather than feel stuck in 2008, there’s a contemporary edge at play that suggests there’s plenty of bite behind the band’s bark also.
Telling the story of a predatory bloke on the pull, it’s a familiar narrative, both lyrically and for anyone who’s ever spent any time in Manchester Fifth Avenue. And while said narrative could easily be transported to just about club in the UK, the inherent northern grit of the track makes it even more familiar.
While just how familiar sounding “Man of the Hour” is might be enough to deter the most cynical of critics, it’s what makes it’s B-Side “Solitude” such an interesting prospect.
At over three minutes, it’s the longer of the two tracks, and showcases a completely different side to Fletchettes. Where “Man of the Hour” was swaggering textbook indie rock, “Solitude” is an understated shimmering slice of alt rock; the subtle guitar slides a far cry from the weighty riffs of its A side.
Indeed, while such a switch in aesthetic might well feel jarring, it makes sense when you’ve heard the band’s previous single “Chasing Youth”, a track feel feels like a natural bridge between the two on offer here.
And while Fletchettes own particular brand of indie might well not be breaking any boundaries, it really doesn’t have to. After all, if it aint broke, why fix it?