It’s been a minute since we last heard from Alvvays (five years to be exact since they released Antisocialites), but they’ve not exactly been hibernating. A flood destroyed their equipment, they had their demo tapes for their long-awaited third album stolen, and have even lost band members along the way. Now the Canadian band are back: they’ve got a new album on the horizon, entitled Blue Rev (out October 7th on Polyvinyl), and also a new single, “Pharmacist.”
Clocking in just over two minutes long, “Pharmacist” take a few seconds for the fuzzy technicolour to hit, but from there, they cover a surprising amount of landscape. Moments feel equally dreamy as they do like they are trying to wrestle the swarming fuzz of the guitars. Come the final 30 seconds or so, the band – now consisting of singer Molly Rankin, guitarist Alec O’Hanley, keyboardist Kerri MacLellan, drummer Sheridan Riley, and bassist Abbey Blackwell – are ripping into a itchy, restless send off, led by O’Hanley’s hazy, almost discordant guitar (which they play like the thing is actually on fire and they are playing around the flames). The whole thing is gone so quickly, it might leave you wanting more, but it’s just one of fourteen tracks on Blue Rev, and no doubt like their other albums, it’s just the beginning point for another album of great hits.
Check out “Pharmacist” below, or via your preferred streaming site here.
Alvvays’ new album Blue Rev is out October 7th via Polyvinyl. Stay up to date with the band via their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
