Cult London band Hatcham Social have released their first new music in six years, following shortly on their first live performance in half a decade. The new song, “If You Go Down To The Woods Today (Three Cheers For Our Side)” comes with the news that they will be releasing a compilation called We Are The Weirdos in March.
On the new song, vocalist Toby Kidd says:
“Originally the song was written before the first album but it was never finished. It felt like it was a manifesto of what the meaning of the name of the band was – ‘Hatcham Social’ being about the clearing in the woods – and this was about claiming a space in the clearing, or standing up for this space together. I was thinking a lot at that time about the play and naivety of children’s rhymes and you can feel that in the verses. Then recently after we decided to re-record it for this, I finished off the lyrics and we finalised the arrangement. It was quite an interesting thing: it was like co-writing with myself!”
The song was also recorded with Brian O’Shaughnessy and Finn Kidd from the band says: “You may recognise Brian as the genius behind Lawrence’s post-Felt records, such as Go-Kart Mozart and Denim, as well as lesser known gems like My Bloody Valentine’s ‘You Made Me Realise’ and ‘Screamadelica’ by Primal Scream.”
With neat knots of guitar interplay, “If You Go Down To The Woods” feels like traipsing through thickets and underbrush to get to some secret party. Despite the haunting echo of that devilish children’s rhyme, there’s a jovial atmosphere in the air of the song, particularly in the buoyant bass and the teasing vocals, calling you deeper into the woods to a gathering you can hear but not see. Hatcham Social’s neatly frenetic playing entices us onwards through the greenery, leading us to a place – a ‘hatcham’ – where like-minded people and living things convene and figure out a new world order – one built on equality, empathy, a determination to combat the climate crisis – and, of course, plenty of good music.
Listen to “If You Go Down To The Woods (Three Cheers For Our Side)” below or on your preferred streaming platform.
“If You Go Down To The Woods (Three Cheers For Our Side)” is out on Fierce Panda. With more news about the We Are The Weirdos compilation to come in due course, make sure to follow Hatcham Social on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
