A Fresh Maxi-Single from Mainland Break
I knew a new release from Mainland Break certainly comes in with a sort of warm pop-rock approach with some great vast undertones that bring things to a bit of a cinematic level while combining this almost vintage '90s underground rock vibe with a more current indie rock approach and all of that comes together and builds a particular atmosphere that you end up really digging into.
"I Give In" features some sort of floaty guitar work, and the way they are able to build this track into that robust and bright chorus is pretty outstanding.
The track starts with chorus effect riddled guitars, so you get that classic '90s vibe, kind of bursts into this bigger feel with different guitar tones, and everything comes in thicker and more full-bodied.
One of the things I do love about the verses is that those guitars bounce off of each other well. There are two guitar parts, with one of them that sort of sits on top of the other, playing single notes as the other one produces chords.
This adds a lot of layers to the track, builds that thickness, and helps bring everything into that big chorus.
When that chorus does hit, there are additional notes that are played floating in the background of the track, and that gives it so much depth and adds to that vast kind of expansive underbelly, which is something that lets the song feel sort of engulfing.
I definitely dig that aspect of the track, and that seems to be a staple in their songwriting.
There are some great guitar parts in terms of overlaying lead stuff, too. There's a kind of simplistic, less-is-more, Strokes-style guitar section that happens in the middle of the track, and I really love that additional influence coming into play.
It was cool because a lot of the other aspects of the song are, again, heavily affected with chorus or reverb, and when that lead section comes in, it's just clean, right up in the forefront, and it gives it a totally different texture.
There's something about this track that sort of lets it swim or lets you swim through it. I love that factor as well because it produces a certain aesthetic.
The vocals can feel pretty big, harmonious when they want to, and they aren't really super upfront, but instead level with the music. The vocals during the choruses are sort of on the same level as the guitars or the drums.
So, in that manner, they are almost treated like instruments themselves, and I dig that too.
During the verses, you can hear everything in terms of the lyrics, and it does get pretty personal.
There are elements about this track lyrically that speak to the band's vulnerability and just kind of laying things out online.
The single has a follow-up released along with it called "Endlessly", which I really loved as well, as it does bear a lot of the same staples that the first track did but has a little bit more of an upbeat approach, and it comes through brighter, more colorful, and very pop-coated.
It still has that same aesthetic, though. The feel of this band is very particular, and they produce a great atmosphere with their songs.
Both of these tracks are catchy and poppy with this warmth to them that sort of reels you in.
These are tracks that you listen to more than once. They are indeed catchy as I mentioned but it's also something where you want to listen to them a few times because you just want to dive back into that atmosphere again.
I love the cinematic, classic pop-rock approach these songs take and how they effortlessly achieve it.
Check these songs out when you can. If you listen to them with headphones, you can really pick up on all the lyrics and extra notes floating around in the background of the track, giving it that depth and fun.
Mainland Break did a great job bringing the pop and rock together, and again, approaching it with classic or vintage style influences, especially with those guitar tones.
Dive into this now, and you surely will not regret it.
