Beloveds revive the lost sound of mid 2000s melancholic rock

Every now and again a song comes along that makes your ears prick up. In the case of Beloveds, their latest single 'Bullshit' had this effect not because it does anything incredibly innovative, but because it perfectly captures an era of music that is oddly forgotten about - despite the songs of this age having such strong connection for those of us who experienced it in real time.

I'm talking about the years of 2004-2008. Action, Drama and Romantic Comedy were peaking, and the music that provided the soundtrack was iconic. Meaningful, feeling, sombre, intense and hopeful all at once. Coldplay, The Fray, Snow Patrol and Evermore to name a few. These were the artists that defined this age of soft melancholic rock.

When I first heard Bullshit by Beloveds, I was immediately transported back to this time. Clean minimal production, driven by an acoustic piano chords, guitar, drums and vocals. A simple combination that creates a classic sound. The song calls out the modern façade; that life is portrayed in extremes, and how this is oversold without any greater purpose. Fake and pretentious. Call it Bullshit.

Beloveds is the solo project of Auckland multi instrumentalist James McCully. Drawing on influences such as Nick Cave and the great singer songwriters of the 1970s, McCully crafts songs that balance witty observation with songwriting craft. Bullshit is part of an upcoming second album from Beloveds.