Pedalo | Better
Weekly Feature : May 21 | Written By Danielle Champ
The five-piece band, who have merged from all corners of the Scottish region, have been making waves for a little over a year. This month, the group, consisting of Beth, Charlotte, Nick, Calum and Callum (with two Ls), release their debut single, ‘Better’, a story of missing out on reaching your full potential.
The song begins with an electric climax; it’s simple and expected for a newbie indie rock band. However, what isn’t expected is the break and elegant eruption that bursts open the intro. With a sound akin to Neutral Milk Hotel, music fans are in for an upbeat treat. The static fuzz, combined with the roaring drum tempo compliments the soft ‘hoo-hoos’ well. It’s one of the more endearing qualities of the song.
Charlotte’s dramatic vocals then haul us into the first verse. This is a clever song, direct and to the point from the outset. “They tell us to slow down/’cause they can’t keep up/well that’s hardly our fault” highlights the struggles of a band wanting more for their career than a small town where nothing ever happens. The chorus is just as punchy. Playing in double time, it’s layered in synths, electric guitars and deep frustration: “Cause they gave you everything/but you wanted to be so much more”.
Although the song’s candor offers music fans a biting insight into the struggles of forging a path in the stale of monotony, there is little range in the song’s tempo. This is further stagnated by unrefined production that doesn’t quite accentuate Charlotte’s voice.
There’s a brief moment in the third verse where the pace slows down ever so slightly, allowing listeners to catch their breath, but this moment is brief, and they’ll quickly find themselves back in the chorus’s upheaval. Having said that, ‘Better’ is still a fun listen; it’s a demonstration that the group is growing, and have impressive careers ahead.
So if you’re ever feeling as though your own potential is mounting to nothing because you just can’t catch a break, crank this bad boy up, because Pedalo might have just what you need to kick your ass into gear.