Exalted recently as “everyone’s favourite Cardiff indie band” by BBC Radio Wales, The Cradles indubitably have their sights set well beyond the valleys with the 25th March release of ‘Ideal Girl’.
Channelling the ’60s meets the 21st century’ sound that The Last Shadow Puppets mastered back in 2008, the track melds (with much success) the dark noir of the verses with a more floaty chorus, carried in Joe Norman’s soft vocals and echoing Shadows-esque guitars.
https://soundcloud.com/the-cradles/ideal-girl
If you enjoy a bit of psychoanalysis while you mellow out – and who doesn’t – then there’s also a pathos-laden lyrical theme to delve into, surrounding the fruitlessness of searching for a romantic partner, and the contrast it finds with the hopes of one day meeting ‘the one’.
All the right signals are given off here from a band that must have much more to come, and with UK tour dates out soon, there’ll be many eyes on The Cradles when they’re rocking back and forth.
The Cradles will be playing a launch party for ‘Ideal Girl’ at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff on 23rd March.
Words by Benedict