Indie music isn’t the first genre that comes to mind when we think of RPM Online, but there are times a band pops up and leaves such an impression that you want to let others know about them, especially when I know our readers also have diverse tastes. Long Island was a brand-new name for me in the last quarter of 2024. Based in Huddersfield, it appears they released their debut album two years ago which is now on my list of albums to hear. This mini album or EP came out a few months ago. The band had popped up as a YouTube recommendation one night when I was looking for new music. The algorithm on there and I have made some great discoveries over the years, and this has definitely been one of them.
The first songs I heard from this release carried a bit more power to them than others on here. Rhiannon Stephenson’s vocals carry a sense of urgency on the rocking ‘Want It More’ where Cameron Conner lets loose on lead guitar too. That was my first introduction to the band with the follow-up song on this release ‘Get Up and Go’ the next one. Stephenson’s lyrics hit the soul and remind us of times in the past (for me) when we didn’t feel like we were in the right place in life. She feels like the voice inside your head that helps us push forward when we feel the darkness around us. I love the guitar riff in the song, and this one currently stands as my favorite here. There is a pop sheen in the hook of the chorus and a wash of guitar that provides the perfect sonic backdrop for the vocals. Conner’s production and mix is stellar across the entire release.
I would not be recommending this whole EP if the two prior songs were the only standouts here. If we circle back to the beginning, this release starts with the poppy ‘It’s Our Time’ where the band unleash a lush sounding first track to bring casual listeners in to hear more. Ironically, I would say this has been more of a grower for me. Imagine one of the peppier songs by the Cure if they were having a good day and wanted to share the good news. I know that sounds off the wall but try to imagine it or better yet listen to this album. The backing vocals hit a sweet spot here too. Another of my favorites has grown to be ‘Just Another Day’ where the tempo is a swirly slower beat providing Stephenson an opportunity to shine. The organic feel across these songs feels very natural with Jan van Beem’s drums driving the songs and making me want to hear the band live. Bass duties have been split on this release between Jack Peters and Paddy Spence-Lewis.
If you read the title ‘Daydream,’ you may think of something that has a massive pop infusion, and you would not be wrong. If there is one song that does not fully connect with me, it is likely this one, but I don’t think I would be the primary audience here either. It is a solid song for me and one I would more expect to hear in a club before the lights come back on in full again. Things slow down for the beginning of ‘Homewrecker’ which is another emotional powerhouse. Emotion and genuineness drip off Stephenson’s vocals drawing you closer to the speaker. I am reminded of the time I was lucky enough to see the band Rural Alberta Advantage live, when they started a song in a similar manner, and you could have heard a feather hit the ground because of how enraptured the audience was. This song then surges forward in an adrenaline rush and another solid hook.
Those songs lead us back to where we began and then we have the band close with ‘Young,’ a de facto title track. The tempo is again quicker here with the band closing with another winner that can connect with rockers and probably a younger audience who appreciate the more rambunctious offerings of Olivia Rodrigo. The line in the chorus about ‘missing the freedom of being young’ connects with an older person like me and also strikes a similar vibe to Tilly Kingston’s song ‘Youth is Wasted’ in sentiment. I could see the audiences of each artist appealing to the other.
A couple months ago or so, I had never heard of Long Island but was pulled right in as a fan of the band and what they are doing here. It might be the slightly harder songs that brought me into the fold, but it is the entirety of the release that kept me listening to this over and over again. Give Long Island a listen and appreciate what this young band is already doing. I look forward to seeing where they go next.
‘The Freedom of Being Young’ is available now. Buy Here
Author: Gerald Stansbury
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