Review

Stereo Club bring old-school indie vibes on new single “Undercover Español”

Stereo Club, the five-piece indie rock outfit from Joburg, dropped a new single a little while ago and it’s a nostalgic alt offering with cheeky bass grooves and driving percussion. “Carefree, a little weird, just the way we like it”, in their own words.

Titled “Undercover Español,” the track is about finding yourself in a conversation that you don’t want to be in. “Life’s too short for the same small talk over and over again,” as Stereo Club says.

Hard hitting indie chords persist throughout, with a dynamic drumbeat that keeps you on your toes, but it’s actually the smaller detail that the band prefers to focus on.

“The lead guitar brings elements of James Bond-esque undercover agent vibes,” they say, “while some tremolo chords in the bridge and a cheeky flamenco chord progression in the chorus almost give a spaghetti western feel – a clash of two genres that should never really mix.

All these elements coupled with sweeping vocals paints a picture of a dusty and deserted town, begging to be quenched of its thirst, as the band put it.

It’s a vivid and visceral offering, albeit lacking some spirit of experimentation or originality. “Undercover Español” sounds like your standard indie-rock song, perhaps a little outdated, but that’s not always a bad thing depending on what you want. If a comforting throwback is what you’re looking for, then you’ve certainly found it in Stereo Club.