The Stanford Family Band Announce ‘Go Again’ EP and Share ‘When Lonesome’
Brighton quartet The Stanford Family Band have announced their second EP, ‘Go Again,’ out July 17 via Krautpop Records. Alongside the news, they’ve shared a new single, ‘When Lonesome,’ out May 8.
The band’s sound draws from C86 jangle, 60s pop radio, and the softer side of 70s songwriting. Think bright guitars, close harmonies, keys with a bit of dust, and melodies made for a late afternoon that’s gone slightly sideways.
‘When Lonesome’ leans into that world with clean guitar lines, warm tape-style production, and stacked vocals that nod to the Beach Boys without becoming costume work. The writing also shows flashes of Queen, Todd Rundgren, and the Carpenters, folded into the band’s loose, sunlit shape.
Laurence Underwood says the song came partly from what he was listening to at the time.
“I think at the time I was listening to a lot of Tommy James and the Shondells, also a lot of Carpenters, and I thought the piano break in the verses was a pretty Carpenters thing to do,” he says. “I then realised that the start sounded like ‘You’re My Best Friend’ by Queen which made me laugh. A boy could only dream of those pipes.”
The Stanford Family Band have already played with Love and Bananagun, and appeared at festivals and showcases including Bristol Sounds, Wanderlust, Deadfest, and The Alternative Escape. Their upcoming EP ‘Go Again’ brings in a wider set of reference points, with shades of Karen Carpenter, CSN, Big Star, Nilsson, and McCartney running through its melodic writing.
Produced by Harry Hayes of Spotted Horses, who also contributes to the songwriting, ‘Go Again’ keeps the band close to vintage pop craft without sanding away the odd edges.
Headline photo: Milo Costelloe
The Stanford Family Band Instagram
