TRACK REVIEW: James Leonard Hewitson – Sideways

Hewitson writes of new track Sideways that it is about ‘being detached from society during the pandemic’, a familiar foundation for so much introspective art in the last couple of years. So its really rewarding to hear James Leonard Hewitson’s take on this theme incorporate euphoric synth pad sounds, dancing 16ths on the hi-hat and tumbling toms.

There’s an unavoidably 80s pomp in some of the synth sounds, the laid-back vocals a little Human League, the intriguing chord pattern in the verse a little ABC. I’d even go as far as to say – especially in the breakdown chorus poetic-heartfelt lyrics about love, and wispy female backing vocals – there’s even a shade of Prefab Sprout, which is a comparison I do not throw about lightly.