Bristol duo Mumble Tide are releasing an eight-track mini album called Everything Ugly in December, and even though half of it is already online, they’re still pulling out more incredible singles like a magician revealing yet another adorably fluffy bunny out of his hat. Following on from “Sucker”, “Breakfast”, and “Good 4 Me” comes today’s next lovably cutting single “On My Deathbed There’s A Full Page (You Don’t Get To Read It)”. Vocalist Gina explains:
“I wrote this song a while ago, it’s one about reflecting on years of unrequited love – about the light that can shine out of a void…. texting someone late at night who you know is bad for you… It’s about how chasing something that isn’t real requires creativity and resilience, but also ignorance. It’s one of our more poppy, youthful tracks but there’s a healthy dose of cynicism and confidence in there that I guess comes with age. We went through a lot of different versions with this one and nearly gave up on it many times, but we kept coming back to it and finally things fell into place.”
While bearing both a fatalistic title and a backstory drenched in gloom, “On My Deathbed” is still an unwavering slice of bright indie pop. Mumble Tide cannily pair Gina’s demure vocal and lyrics with bright guitar chords like a light that she can see but can’t feel, all while observing her partner with equal parts desire, hesitance and suspicion. “Always lit up by your darkness” she admits in the chorus, a minor alarm synth ringing as the percussion punctuates the backdrop, accentuating just how unhealthy a habit she knows this to be. As “On My Deathbed” continues, they loop back through the same ideas, but Gina’s delivery changes, as if the facade of love is fading and she’s coming into her own, realising her own authority in the situation. By the time of the song’s fiery conclusion it seems like she’s outgrown this affair and is looking down on her former partner, able now to see clearly just how foolish she was.
Listen to “On My Deathbed There’s A Full Page (You Don’t Get To Read)” below or on streaming platforms.
Mumble Tide’s Everything Ugly arrives on December 3 through Nothing Fancy (pre-order on Bandcamp).
They’ve also been announced as support to Liz Lawrence on these dates:
27.09 – Patterns, Brighton
28.09 – Lafayette, London
29.09 – Exchange, Bristol
30.09 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
01.10 – The Bodega, Nottingham
03.10 – Cluny, Newcastle
04.10 – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
05.10 – CCA, Glasgow
06.10 – Gorilla, Manchester
08.10 – District, Liverpool
09.10 – Brudenell, Leeds
10.10 – Joiners, Southampton
And have these headline dates:
29.11 – The Castle, Manchester
30.11 – Blue Moon, Cambridge
01.12 – The Crofter’s Rights, Bristol
02.12 – Sebright Arms, London
You can follow Mumble Tide on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
