What begins as a shoe-gazed soaked cacophony of reverberating guitars soon evolves into something effortlessly defiant on new single ‘Domestic’ from Wigan alt rock outfit, Dafties. In their first release of the year, the duo navigate the omnipresent struggles of modern life, where prying eyes and judgmental glares will constantly manipulate your story into a new false narrative. Here front woman Rae lethargically fires through her anecdotes and grievances with a melancholic delivery, channelling a cross between breakthrough indie act Snail Mail, and Fontaines’ Grian Chatten. It’s hard to interpret the lyric as anything other than two fingers, effortlessly raised and loudly directed to those who’ve antagonised the group over the years.

But under the lyrics, the groups north west routes echo around the track, creating a powerful backdrop for this post modern poetry. A deafening bass chugs under the track, harking back to the days of factory records; Peter Hook and Joy Division giving Ian Curtis the canvas to paint his story on. The Stone Roses’ ‘I wanna be adored’ also comes to mind. But although this track has been kissed with nostalgia, it seems to sound like the future of indie rock. The drums push and pull throughout, and every hit of the snare seems like it’s pushing Dafties to something huge. Not to mention a fuzzy guitar which could define any listeners’ summer. 

This is the duo’s third single release as they pick up momentum at a rapid fire rate, having already turned the heads of BBC radio curators last year. As they continue to channel the thoughts and feelings of an entire generation, they will only become more powerful, with more swagger and a hungrier appetite for the inevitable connections their forthcoming EP ‘Tea’ will bring. 

Review from Alex Henderson – @alexander.hendersonn