When The Boxer Rebellion announced their return with new music in the form of a four-track EP, led by the single “Powdered Sugar,” I couldn’t contain my excitement.
Piers Hewitt (drums) describes the band’s journey saying,
“There had been a long time since we had even been together much at all, let alone made music and played in the same room. A lot has happened since for all of us, but there is an unshakeable feeling of togetherness in this band when we create something new. Recording ‘Powdered Sugar’, and other tracks this year has been almost cathartic in one sense, but also it just felt amazing to be back in a place where we can do what we love doing all together again. And with the journey we have shared up until now it also felt like the most natural thing in the world and almost as if no time had passed at all. To create new art is a joy. To do it with brothers that you love is a privilege.”
The quarte of Nathan Nicholson (vocals), Andrew Smith (guitars), Adam Harrison (bass), and the aforementioned Piers Hewitt on drums, has lost none of its magic. “Powdered Sugar” is a melodic masterpiece, with Adam’s bass providing a rhythmic heartbeat to the song and Nathan’s haunting vocals delivering a poetic narrative. The intricate layers of guitar and drums, orchestrated by Andrew and Piers, dance with jubilation.
“Powdered Sugar” is a beautiful melodic journey with Adam’s bass seamlessly strumming throughout the song along with always haunting vocals by Nathan. But what tickles me pink is the poetic nature of the layers upon layers of guitar and drums that dance with joy from Andrew and Piers.
On the song, Nathan shares,
“This is a song about love and having the perfect partner, when your relationship is in its infancy and there’s a constant adrenaline with butterflies in the stomach – the anticipation of what could be. I just wanted to try and capture some of that feeling of optimism in the lyrics.”
Indeed, optimism has been splendidly captured. The Boxer Rebellion has returned to reclaim their place in the indie music landscape, and their mark is as bold as ever.
Photo by Chris Lopez
