“Drawing From Memory” bursts out with an energetic rock punch that instantly feels familiar — in the best possible way. There’s a warmth in Jake Vickers’ voice that wraps itself around the song’s quick-fire momentum, giving that rush of “oh, I know this feeling,” even if you’re hearing it for the first time. Listening to it, I caught myself nodding along before I even realised it, which is usually a sign the band nailed the balance between push and comfort.
The track’s exploration of vivid memories, desire, and those strange mental snapshots we all carry around hits surprisingly well without turning heavy. It’s lively, fast-paced, and confident, yet there’s an emotional clarity running underneath the guitars — almost like the song itself is rifling through a photo box, pulling out scenes that feel too sharp to ignore. That sense of immediacy makes the whole thing land with a freshness that fans of Sam Fender or Inhaler will appreciate, while still keeping that slightly dramatic edge you’d expect from Pulp or even Florence in her windswept moments.
What fascinates me most is how “Drawing From Memory” was a last-minute addition — the kind of song that arrives out of nowhere and suddenly becomes essential. You can hear that spark in it. The urgency, the “this has to be recorded now” vibe, the sense of a band trusting their instinct. And honestly? It pays off. The alt-rock energy makes it easy to blast at full volume, but it still has enough detail to sink into, like rediscovering an old track you forgot you loved.
About The Zangwills:
The story of The Zangwills is very much shaped by chance meetings and varied influences — Jake Vickers, Ed Dowling, and Sam Davies linking up in college, eventually joined by drummer Adam Spence. Their catalogue so far includes two EPs — “It’s Really Up To You” and “In Amongst the Glitter” — and an impressive ability to craft songs that sound completely their own thanks to their blend of Bowie, Arctic Monkeys, The Cure, and The Strokes. Even their visuals carry ambition, with the award-winning “Judas on the Dancefloor” produced by Maisie Williams and Lowri Roberts. With a debut album in the works, they’re clearly gearing up for something significant.
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