There’s something about a song that comes in pieces like this, a song that doesn’t quite gel (until it does). It’s at once too camp and not camp enough, teetering on the edge of some larger sophistication but not quite sure why. And then the hooks, and it doesn’t matter.
Wouldn’t have touched this with a ten-foot pole a decade ago, but here we are. Thank you, London.
“Sabians” is by Shimmering Stars, a Vancouver band who make the sort of spring-reverbed throwback garage pop we seem to need right now.
They have other, catchier numbers (try them with some video accompaniment here and here), but “Sabians” finds them at their most run-down. It’s the end of the night and a dozen of us are left in the cavernous gymnasium; the band are tired and want to go home.
But we’ll press together, they’ll sing, and at the last possible moment we’ll wring out some sweetness, barely.
Also, hey. “Back to the Future” is in theatres again.
