Scottish alternative rock band Teenage Fanclub released ‘The Sun Won’t Shine on Me’ on 15 March. The track will appear on their upcoming album, Endless Arcade, due to drop on 30 April. This track is the fourth that the band have released from Endless Arcade, following ‘I’m More Inclined’, ‘Home,’ and ‘Everything Is Falling Apart,’ which was originally released back in 2019. The album marks the band’s first since 2016’s Here, it’s also their first without the band’s co-founding member and bassist Gerard Love, who departed in 2018.
‘The Sun Won’t Shine on Me’ begins with a delicate loop of a guitar, before lead vocalist Norman Blake enters with his soft and distinctive tone. It brings a classic ’60s folk sound, reminiscent of The Beatles or more contemporary acts like The Kooks. Although the song has a melancholic feel to it, it’s brimming with tenderness and consolation rather than wallowing. The beautiful harmonies and gentle delivery throughout provide a sense of comfort, sparking a similar feeling of reflection that one experiences when walking along a beach listening to the waves crash, or when sat alone in an open space taking in the expansive view.
The song is both graceful and soothing, despite its lyrics. It’s the perfect soundtrack for letting go, breathing a big sigh of relief and facing reality. The song is about acceptance; with the lyrics “The sun won’t shine on me / With a troubled mind I am in decline / And the sun won’t shine on me,” Blake opens up about his current state, thoughts and where he is at. He reflects on the uncertainties of life, holding onto hope for brighter days to come. Even though the lyrics carry a sense of pain, it’s consoling for a listener to hear Blake’s honesty, the tranquillity the track brings supports the listener in doing the same. He said: “This is something of a rarity for Teenage Fanclub – a song in waltz time!”
When asked about the album guitarist Raymond McGinley said: “I think of an endless arcade as a city that you can wander through, with a sense of mystery, an imaginary one that goes on forever. When it came to choosing an album title, it seemed to have something for this collection of songs.”
Blake adds “We’re all getting older, and you can’t help but think about mortality, especially when you’re being creative and reflecting on your life.”
The sense of reflecting on one’s life is particularly evident in this new track, but its beauty comes with Blake’s calmness. The track provides reassurance for those who may be in a troubled place. Life has its fair share of both highs and lows and when the sun doesn’t shine, hope remains.
Words by Danielle Saunders
Photo by Donald Milne
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