Punch-in is an alternative/indie rock band with a rather interesting way of looking at some fairly serious subjects and their new single, “Trespassing”, is no exception.
Before listening to the track, I’ll admit I was curious to see what the band were about and where they’re at, so naturally I had a quick look online first. I wasn’t disappointed by the amount of trespassing stories that appeared. I’m not saying that was the reason I pressed play, but it certainly felt appropriate.
So, what exactly was I expecting from the first few notes? Honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure. There’s something about the opening that immediately gives me Western movie vibes, before the rock/alternative feel starts to take over.
“Trespassing” is essentially a darkly comic take on housing, private land, wealth and, ultimately, who gets to decide where people are allowed to belong. It’s quite a serious subject matter, but Punch-in manage to approach it with enough humour and personality that it never feels like you’re being lectured.
Musically, the structure itself is fairly simple. The vocals were probably my favourite part of the song. There’s a really nice contrast between the deeper delivery during the verses and the higher register that comes through during the chorus.
I particularly like how the vocal delivery fits the darker humour of the lyrics too. There’s something almost tongue-in-cheek about the way the song approaches its subject, which stops it from becoming too heavy despite dealing with issues that are, in reality, pretty bleak.
If I had one criticism, it would probably be that the song could benefit from little more variation musically. The straightforward structure works, but there were moments where I thought the song could used a little more experimentation. That said, it’s very much a personal preference, and it certainly doesn’t take away from what the track is trying to achieve.
Overall, “Trespassing” is an interesting listen that manages to tackle some pretty serious themes without taking itself too seriously. And, after doing my pre-listen search and finding exactly the sort of trespassing stories I was hoping for, I’d say Punch-in have certainly delivered on the brief.
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