Hamilton indie rock darlings the Arkells released a brand new single titled, “Never Thought This Would Happen.” The song will appear on the band’s third and forthcoming full-length album, which was produced by the meticulously adventurous Tony Hoffer (Phoenix, M83, Beck) and recorded in Highland Park, LA.The video features a blasting off rocket ship and enough flashing messages to make your eyeballs feel as if they were subjugated to some Clockwork Orange-style viewing torture. But in spite of the short terms burned forever into your retina, the song still manages to leave an impression on its sonic merits.Despite being a slow burner, “Never Thought This Would Happen” is classic Arkells. Inspired by an experience at the Hillside Festival in rural Ontario, it’s a story about finding oneself pleasantly lost in a summer haze and unexpectedly tongue-tied with an old friend sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.The song rides along on that raspy, rich tone in Max Kerman’s voice, it’s underpinned by a gruff, bouncy bass line, fleshed out by these resilient string arrangements and perfectly placed "ooh la la la’s" before opening up on to a soaring chorus that washes over you like a gloriously warm summer sun.If “Never Thought This Would Happen” is any indication of what we can expect from the album, the Arkells are still that same rough around the edges working class indie rock band with heart.Juliette Jagger is a rock critic living in Toronto---Want more Ontario indie rock? We profiled Stuck On Planet EarthRemember that time we went People Watching at a Guelph Music Festival?Or when we actually Found A Good Band In My Shitty University Town?
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