Honing their craft since 2018, Newcastle rock/punk outfit Nothin’ Deluxe released their debut single Flirtatious back in November.
Firing out of the blocks with a cheeky laugh, the guitars take aim and suggest a rocking number with plenty of swagger.
The vocals ease in smoothly, with enough edginess to reinforce that view. A cheeky guitar solo early on keeps you on your toes before the track settles back into groove with a catchy rhythm that wouldn’t be out of place on rock radio.
The drums keep pace nicely, but it’s the wicked guitar runs and solos that are doing it for me.
About 1.50 in, the song changes gear, shifting down maybe half a beat to create a mini breakdown of sorts that hangs around just long enough to entice a prolonged guitar solo that rips and shreds, elevating the track yet again in a sonic whirlwind of intent.
It’s almost as if this whole song is guitar-driven with vocals added for effect – something that often feels forced in rock songs – but Flirtatious benefits from the freedom afforded the chops on this occasion, with the vocals providing the glue created by the guitar’s friction.
Even the ending is well-balanced and subtle, trailing off with a steady decline rather than halting things abruptly. Very solid debut!
