Richard BodinLife doesn’t always go according to plan. The guys from Neptune Blood know it all too well. Born from the ashes of their previous adventure, Fox Jaw, that lasted pretty much two decades, the new Limerick band is trying to make a new name for themselves. After a first single, “Midnight Showing”, released quietly a few months ago, the new adventure continues with “Best Laid Plans”.
A Brooding, Psychedelic Groove
The track opens with a catchy, almost hypnotic guitar riff, looping over a stomping rhythm section. As soon as the vocals come in, the instrumentation strips back, leaving that same driving rhythm supported by a groovy, pulsing bassline. Ronan Mitchell’s deep, resonant voice, paired with the sparse arrangement and occasional wailing guitar chords and synths, gives the song a brooding, slightly shadowy mood. The tempo is steady — not rushed, but with a slow-burn intensity. During the chorus, the soundscape swells with haunting backing vocals. It then retreats again to a more pared-down arrangement in the following verse. It lifts once more, and for good, with the next chorus. This time more prominent synths and a howling guitar laying a nice little solo reinforce the track’s subtle psychedelic undercurrent.
Drawing the Line — and Starting Over
The song is about plans that don’t always go as expected, despite the level of effort put into them. As I mentioned earlier, the lads from Neptune Blood know a thing or two about that.
Last autumn, they closed the book on Fox Jaw. Despite a loyal fanbase, the band made the tough call to step away. Several factors played a role. One was artistic: they wanted the freedom to explore new musical directions that didn’t seem fitting with Fox Jaw. Another was practical: the rise of a UK band called Phoxjaw was causing increasing confusion. The name clash became too disruptive to ignore. So, despite their best laid plans to take their time and regroup, they chose instead to make a clean break.
What Comes Next
The decision forced a hard reset of some sort. Neptune Blood now has everything to build from the ground up again. But artistically, it makes sense artistically. “Best Laid Plans”, released a few months after “Midnight Showing” — with a more Madchester vibe to it, yet still psychedelic — shows a band unafraid to embrace change and stretch into new creative territory.
And from the sound of things, they’re just getting started. A new single should be expected in a few weeks. I, for one, am eager to hear where they go next.
