Taking the pounding and relentless groove of Iggy Pop’s solo career golden age and guitars inspired by 80’s UK indie bands, “Sugar” is an interesting prospect, even before you encounter the vocals. On top of this blend of beat and bliss, Wildings, essentially a solo outfit from Derby, UK places a spoken word delivery, the sort of street-wise commentary that sits somewhere between Sleaford Mods (if they calmed down a bit) and The Streets (if they took things a bit more seriously.)
A musing on consumerism, materialism, and the distractions of modern life, this song is a brilliant juxtaposition of urban observation and wry lyricism, danceable grooves, and chiming, resonant riffs.
But what I like about it is the scale of the piece. Whereas many would over-egg the song, turn it into something heightened and more dramatic, make it into some rabble-rousing call to arms, Wildings instead delivers the music as if he is having a deep discussion with a close mate, leaning on the bar of the Dog and Duck just before closing time.
And I feel what is being showcased here is something that British bands excel at: understatement, the ability to say something important almost as an afterthought. No one is going to storm the barricades after listening to this, although maybe they should, but as a fantastic piece of sonic art meets social commentary, it can not be bettered.
