I have to admit to being a sucker for a cool seven inch single. There’s something about the format that makes the listening experience that bit more personal and immediate. I was absolutely buzzing when I received my copy of Public Service from Leeds based outfit Last Tourist.
Last Tourist conjures the sound of creeping down dark corridors and wandering through deserted spaces, all set to a moody and rhythmic danceable beat.
Drawing firmly from post-punk ideals, this darkwave, shoegaze, synth-infused four piece formed in 2017 and now feature John Wellby (guitar, vocals, programming) and Adam Simpson (synths, programming, backing vocals), Jason Booth (bass guitar, bass synth) and Andrea Parra (drums, backing vocals).
They cite influences by such as Joy Division, Interpol, Suicide, Diiv and The Jesus & Mary Chain.
.This first single is a double A side seven inch featuring the tracks “Public Service / Are We Just Algorithms?” and was released back in November last year.
“Public Service” is a darkly glorious synthwave meets shoegaze blend. Shimmering synths fight with 10-foot-tall guitars for your attention. Powerful bass lines, entwined with moody vocals and rhythmic danceable drums complete this heady concoction.
‘”Are We Just Algorithms?” has all the swagger of early Gary Numan but instead of that cold, robotic feel his work has, here, there is a human heart. The line “at least we’re still alive” has that hopeful counter to the title. The song is driven by the bass and drums sitting beneath wailing guitars and a catchy synth hook.
The single features a hidden track, consisting of an original Commodore 64 BASIC program written by Last Tourist, to accompany the single “Are We Just Algorithms?” A copy of this program file is hidden within the vinyl and cassette versions. Each record also contains a private QR code linking to a demonstration video.
The single is available to buy now, on vinyl or digital, from Bandcamp.
Static Sounds Club 