Listen to … Since Torino – Everything Else
Alt-rock four-piece shore up their softer side.
Image credit: @sincetorino
You don’t listen to a Since Torino track. You inspect, decant and savour it.
That’s what the is quickly becoming the band’s defining characteristic: a refreshing preference for an emotive story over a riff, fill or bitesize soundbite that only exists for the sake of shameless marketing. It might not be the quickest way to build a following, but it’s a tactic that’ll keep people listening for the foreseeable.
That approach remains evident with latest single Everything Else. It serves to shore up the band’s flourishing house style. If you’ve listened to their previous work, there’ll be no unwelcome surprises here: bright guitar, lulling vocals and a soulful harmonica to cut through the track. And much like preceeding single Snow, a simple beginning serves as a clear promise of what’s to come.
Tasteful change
What differs here? The earnest introduction is a little heavier and made more impactful through a staggering tempo, plodding drum beat and reserved flourishes of a crunchy – and dare I say electric – guitar. Of the band’s current body of work, Everything Else sounds like their most accessible track to date.
But there’s meaning behind their melancholic and patient approach. The focus of this track is the self, a fear of missing out and longing to be a part of something bigger – and the need to do better to make that companionship a reality. It’s why the touching introspection of the lyrics marries up wonderfully with a sense of slow, sedated lethargy. That’s not to say the track isn’t engaging or risks being a little on the slow side; but its a thematically fitting decision that encourages you to take the same steps as the track’s protagonist: going step by unrelenting step towards further introspection.
At this point, I’m invested. But the transition – around the 2:40 mark – seals the track’s fate and my reflections upon it. The swell that comes is like an unsighted wave washing over you. It’s an inflection point: one that sees us go from analysing the self to immersing ourselves entirely in the emotions the band are conjuring.
Feelings first
From here, their delivery is soaked in feeling. And I don’t mean the vocal delivery or appropriate playing of instruments: there’s a sense that each component part of Everything Else is crafted with an almost yearning vulnerability.
Towards the slow and tender end of the track, there’s a lingering hope of optimism that’s incredibly potent. It’s timidly mixed with a pang of anxiety from oversharing; choosing to let your guard down and immediately wishing you could take back your confessions. It’s why – when everyone chips in to offer their voice to a sorrowful conclusion – the feeling becomes a pillar of the track. It’s not a light allusion: you feel the band are open, exposed and hoping you’ll recieve their work with a little empathy.
As we’ve now learned, Since Torino’s tracks are less melodies and hooks, but rather narrative journeys confined to a relatively concise few minutes. And that’s where the band truly shines. In prompting such reflection and feelings in the face of an increasingly impatient audience, their ability to tell stories through song makes them stick.
Do share your thoughts and reflections on Everything Else, then check out Since Torino’s socials. While you’re there, say hello on Instagram, too.