They welcomed us to the summer earlier this year but what about when autumn shadows and damp clouds rear their head? It is the question that has stemmed from every misty morn and rain-wearing chill so far but never fear for NARCOTIC HEARTS have that covered too. The UK rockers are poised to release their sophomore album and if you were wearing a warm smile courtesy of their recent sun festive single, Summer’s Coming, don’t be surprised if Open Up Your Mind’s Eye has you grinning and bouncing like a lunatic.
NARCOTIC HEARTS – OPEN UP YOUR MIND’s EYE
Open Up Your Mind’s Eye is one of those moments when fun and pleasure swamp the shadows of the day and gets you up to inhibition free exploits. A moment that also declares NARCOTIC HEARTS prime for the biggest and widest attention, indeed their new album demands it.
It is a reaction that the band’s striking self-titled debut album sparked here and similarly a great many back in 2022 and keenly repeated from the moment that Open Up Your Mind’s Eye leapt from the speakers. In fact the album has proved even more devilish and cunning in that manipulation, its collection of tracks building on the prowess of that first offering with more keen adventure and creative maturity aligned to juvenile energy. Produced by Gary ‘Sticks’ Hawkins, Open Up Your Mind’s Eye is described as “A much more direct offering than the band’s debut”. It is a valid description but neglects to say that the album is also a more hungrily eclectic and mischievously dynamic encounter.
Hailing from the unassuming yet richly potent St Albans music scene, NARCOTIC HEARTS emerged from Covid lockdown enslaved Hertfordshire cult heroes TUESDAY CLUB, and is similarly part of the city’s Perfect Pop-Co label family. The band has been leaving attention grabbing moments around the place ever since with that acclaimed first album surrounded the quartet’s infectious live exploits which has seen them share stages with the likes of MY LIFE STORY, EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS and THE WOODENTOPS and headline and play numerous other high profile events.
In saying that though, we can only suggest things are going to get bigger and busier once Open Up Your Mind’s Eye descends on ears. It is just as industrious trying to really tag the band’s sound. You can call it new wave, punk rock or glam pop bred (they call it outsider pop) yet equally it is ’77 nostalgic and post 2025 suggestive bringing constant variety and adventure.
It shares intrigue, mystery and joy by the moment across the new album and instantly as the album opens with Do It For The Love. The song joyfully erupts from the speakers with a beaming grin of a hook and a rhythmic shuffle causing instinctive movement. From that moment it is an affair of punk and indie pop contagion, a rousing feel good incitement for eager attention and participation and a coaxing escalating with every handclap, flirtatious groove and nagging burst of energy.
It is an outstanding start that only becomes more irresistible through next up Always Do What It Says On The Tin. Another rhythmic shuffling courts swift involvement, its bait soon joined by a glam rock flame of guitar. The swing that flows from there is nothing short of a puppeteer to movement and glee as too the Cardiacs-esque keys that colour the song’s art pop inclinations. Firmly making a play for favourite track honours, it is a twist and turn carnival with punk rock shenanigans in its addictive exploits.
The equally manipulative Signs follows and ventures into post punk realms with rhythmic and guitar jangle dexterity. It too, is a four way nagging of a proposal, the vocals and words of Andreas as ever a magnet for ears, fun and thought. With SPIZZ ENERGI hues and post pop imagination, the song burrowed deep as too its successor, This Is Goodbye. Crunchy riffs and rapacious rhythms underline its feral and varied rock proposal, the track another that is somewhat kaleidoscopic in flavour and enterprise and direct in adrenaline fuelled temptation.
Once again a warm glow wraps ears and emotions as that lead single steps forward, Summer’s Coming a festival of psych and indie pop tempting amid new wave joyfulness. The heat only continues to enliven the senses as Overwhelmed sauntered in on a BUZZCOCKS like invitation to weave a ’77 vintage punk/post punk pop enslavement, its internal bass predation simply irresistible.
A psych pop shimmer wraps Oh Girl and its shadow bound dark rock cured romance while Dreamboy Doin’ Well petulantly stamps its rhythmic authority down before launching into an inspiriting punk agitated stroll. Dystopian pop might be the best way to describe another gripping moment within the release, the song echoing the album’s title with its ominous infestation of craft and genre varied glam rock sound.
The song, Narcotic Hearts brings Open Up Your Mind’s Eye to a close, prowling in with a devilish grin on its breath and even more mischief in its early-ADAM AND THE ANTS kilned devilry. We have offered many references to help picture songs and as here all only hint at the NARCOTIC HEARTS originality and creative rascality from song to song, the album closing out with another mightily impish and thrilling snicker of virulent captivation.
Open Up Your Mind’s Eye is released on all digital formats, CD and limited edition vinyl on 19th October, unveiled and on sale, alongside the new ANDREAS & THE WOLF album, Possibilities of Heaven, at The Barn St Albans (Behind The Horn) as part of The Perfect Pop Co-Op 3rd Annual Review Party. GET A TICKET HERE.
