Retrosaint – “False Start” [Song Review]

Indie pop project Retrosaint recently released their new single, “False Start,” which sees Retrosaint taking a side trip into cool, retro-laced Americana.

Discussing the song, Retrosaint says:

“Sometimes good relationships come to an end, for whatever reason. And sometimes, we think we’ve reached some big milestone in life when in fact, the journey hasn’t even started yet. That’s what ‘False Start’ is about.”

The band was formed in 2020 with David Ross at the helm and backed by Jonny Lutz on electric guitars, bass and drums. Lutz also produced “False Start,” while Frances Takemoto provided the fiddle-style violins.

A classically trained pianist, Ross appeared on the reality show American Supergroup for its pilot season, followed by putting together Retrosaint and releasing his self-titled EP in 2022. The EP was straight-ahead alt-rock, featuring “Diamonds in the Rough” and “Joy Says.”

Retrosaint, photo courtesy of Retrosaint

“False Start” opens on a light, sparkling guitars flowing into a creamy, shimmering melody riding a delicious, mid-tempo rhythm. Ross’ rich vocals, vaguely reminiscent of Ricky Nelson’s silky-smooth tones, imbue the lyrics with luxurious tones. A gauzy bridge leads to glistening harmonics on the outro as Ross’ charming voice soars.

The epitome of elegant, easy listening, “False Start” conveys the luscious finesse of Americana merged with infectious yacht pop flavours.

Run Time: 4:42
Release Date: August 27, 2024
Record Label: Independent