Anyone who has heard The Cords play immediately knows one thing. This band is the real deal. That debut single, ‘Bo’s New Haircut’ paired with ‘Rather Not Stay’, hinted at something immediate, raw and quietly extraordinary. It wasn’t just the charm of it, though there was plenty, it was the sense that Eva and Grace Tedeschi were already operating at a level way beyond the usual debut curve. Their songs were short, sharp and disarmingly melodic.
Now they’re back with their new single ‘Fabulist’ and it confirms what many of us suspected. This band are going places.
‘Fabulist’ opens with that trademark Cords jangle. Loose and chiming, the guitar tone is all sparkle and spite. You get a crash of drums straight after, no soft introduction, no indulgent build. Just bang, we’re in. Grace’s drumming is locked and tight. Not flashy, just exactly what the song needs to move forward. It’s got the same kind of precision you hear in late-period Shop Assistants. Fast, clipped, and heart-skipping. Vocally, Eva has taken a step up here. There’s a clarity to the delivery. She sounds confident, like she knows this song will hit home.
And this is the real kicker. On the surface, ‘Fabulist’ is breezy and catchy. It’s got the same immediacy that made the debut so moreish. But it doesn’t take long to realise there’s a bigger agenda here. This is a takedown. A pointed refusal to let liars off the hook. The word fabulist itself carries weight. It’s not a word that crops up in many songs. It implies more than just deception, it’s about manipulation, fantasy, control. Politicians. Media figures. That kind of thing. But it’s written in such a way that it could be about anyone who spins their own truth.
What stands out most is how full this sounds for a duo. There’s no empty space. Grace’s drumming covers the ground a bass would usually take, and Eva fills the rest with those scratchy rhythm parts and flashes of melody. They’ve clearly worked at this and it pays off. You never feel like anything’s missing.
It would be easy to namecheck all the usual indiepop reference points, and yes, they’re there. The Primitives. Pains of Being Pure At Heart. A touch of Lush maybe. But The Cords are quickly becoming their own thing. The influences are clear, but they’re not clinging to them. They’re pushing forward. They’re part of that wave of young bands that understand the tradition but aren’t weighed down by it.
This is the first taste of their debut album and if the rest follows this lead, we’re in for something really special. You can hear it in the urgency. There’s no hesitation in this track. No second-guessing. Just a blast of smart, fizzing guitar pop that says exactly what it wants to say. Needless to say, I’ll be breaking down the eponymous debut album track by track right here before it releases in September.
‘Fabulist’ is out on 22nd July and is available as a very limited transparent lathe-cut 7″ and as a CD single on Skep Wax Records (Europe) and Slumberland Records (America). Make sure and follow the band over on The Cords Bandcamp page.
You can follow The Cords on social media here….
Upcoming Gigs
25 Jul: GLASGOW Glas-goes-pop Fest (sold out)
1 Aug: NEWCASTLE Common Room (supporting Primitives)
2 Aug: KENDAL Calling Fest (sold out)
9 Aug: PRESTON Pop Fest
20 Sep: PARIS Pop Fest
25 Sep: SHEFFIELD Sidney & Matilda
26 Sep: LONDON Betsey Trotwood
27 Sep: LONDON Rough Trade West (afternoon)
29 Sep: RAMSGATE Music Hall
30 Sep: EXETER Cavern
1 Oct: BRISTOL Cafe Kino
2 Oct: COVENTRY Just Dropped In
3 Oct: MANCHESTER Kamera
4 Oct: EDINBURGH Indiepop all-dayer
5 Oct: GLASGOW Mono
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