Forever Honey - Pre-Mortem High (2020)

As their name suggests, Forever Honey are a great big dollop of musical sugariness. But underneath the sweet exterior are layers of reflective anxiety – making Pre-Mortem High an exciting debut showcase from the Brooklyn four piece.

In some ways, the EP feels of another time. Guitarist, Aida Mekonnen channels The Cult’s Billy Duffy on Christian, which is a blur of addictive new wave guitars and 80s pop vocals – but, at the same time, it wouldn’t feel out of place brushing shoulders at an indie disco alongside contemporaries such as Car Seat Headrest and Lorde. While the drum machine middle eight on Go For A Smoke hints at the quartet having an experimental side that goes beyond what’s on offer across this four song set.

But it’s second single, Twenty Five, where singer, Liv Price, goes deep. Inspired by her spotting her changed body in the mirror, it’s a mature take on her maturation into womanhood, as she realised that she was starting to look more like her mum – ‘I thought I’d never say / I’m looking more like you every day’. And its anecdotal viewpoint means its infectious hooks feel that much more relatable – making it the highlight of this impressive collection.