FFO: Montelimar – Rainbows

Rainbows marks the debut of Newcastle rock four‑piece Montelimar, a vivid first statement that folds 60s garage rock, neo‑psych and post‑punk into their anything‑goes sound. Recorded at Blank Studios with producer John Martindale, the track channels the euphoria of stepping out of a storm and into the light, pairing triumphant lyricism with 12‑string jangle, crunching guitars, visceral drums and buoyant melodic bass.

Here, the band sum up the sounds of their latest single using three other tracks…

The Beatles – She Said She Said

Montelimar was born from a deep love of 60s bands like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and 13th Floor Elevators, with the era’s melodic and experimental writing influencing our sound as well as our aesthetic outlook.

Revolver is probably the Beatles record we come back to most. She Said She Said has everything we love: chiming guitars, shifting rhythms, psychedelic textures and a melody that’s instantly memorable despite how adventurous the song is. That’s a balance we’re always chasing—songs that feel immediate but reveal more with every listen.

Teenage Fanclub – Star Sign

No one combines warmth, texture, melody and guitar interplay quite like Teenage Fanclub. Star Sign is a masterclass in making distorted guitars sound uplifting rather than aggressive. We love that sense of optimism, where big hooks and loud guitars happily coexist.

The Horrors – Sea Within A Sea

This track represents the more expansive side of what we do. It builds patiently, creates atmosphere and isn’t afraid to let texture and repetition become part of the emotional payoff. Even when we’re writing concise guitar-pop songs, we’re always thinking about space, dynamics and creating a world around the melody.