Following their debut single, “Safeword”, The Bedside Morale have returned with another smoking hot track, “Bitter Things”.
But there’s absolutely nothing bitter about “Bitter Things”.
Kynan Scott provides a deep and groovy bassline that allows drummer, T Coles, and guitarists, Tim Kazer and Charlie Dowzell to soar. Tim, who pulls double duty as vocalist, provides decadent and outstanding vocals that float effortlessly over the music. “Bitter Things” is fast paced with catchy lyrics, infectious melodies, and hooky riffs.
On how the song developed, the band says,
“We’ve been really keen to try a call-and-response song, calling out with a hooky riff a la The Police or REM, and responding with a sultry and low-key verse section. The chorus came very naturally and Tim’s vocal line is gorgeous. The outro section, which we created almost in the style of a live orchestra swelling to a crescendo, is magic and one of our favourite things we’ve written as a band.”
The call and response is easy to hear and adds a wonderful flair to “Bitter Things”.
The band further adds,
“Lyrically with this one we really wanted to draw on a more conversational style that a lot of our favourite musicians do so expertly. That expositional outline of the character of a man. This was the first time we’ve done any real character work in a song. That’s not to say there’s no real world grounding for this person but this man is more of a villain. He uses negativity as a way of manipulation, at some point in his life found that self pity got him what he wanted, and he’ll sink to the absolute depths just to use someone for his own personal gain. So this one’s for that guy. Or, in truth, the deeply insecure, messy reality of that man. We all see you and we all see what you’re doing.”
Without a doubt, the bass in “Bitter Things” is a standout element for me. It has an infectious hook that draws one right one. But for me to limit the praise of “Bitter Things” solely to the bassline would be a disservice to its overall brilliance. The song is an absolute tour de force from start to finish, with each note and lyric meticulously crafted to create an incredibly infectious and blazingly hot track.
From the very first chords to the closing beats, “Bitter Things” exudes a magnetic charm that’s hard to resist. There’s an unshakable confidence in its delivery and an undeniable coolness that permeates through every element of the song.
It’s a song that doesn’t just play in the background; it commands attention, smacking one in the face with sheer rock-n-roll.
