Cannons - Bad Dream
By Thomas Bridger
Under their new signing with RCA Records UK, Cannons’ new single Bad Dream continues their journey to stardom and recognition following the colossal success of Fire for You, which topped the alternative charts in 2020.
Cannons - Bad Dream
Bad Dream perfectly embodies that 80s synthwave vibe, with ethereal synth-string chords, analog bass, and heavy use of reverb on the snare which perfectly accompany Michelle Joy’s Gaga-esque vocals. The song opens with vocals, accompanied by ambient chords and effects. This first verse builds in texture, adding bass drums and guitar before the chorus, where the simple, but highly effective 4-note synth hook signifies the chorus. The backing harmony in the vocals nicely beefs up the chorus; it sufficiently layers it in such a way that nothing else needs to be added, meaning that the chorus retains that ‘floaty’ effect which works so well with the timbral qualities of the synth chords. Towards the end, the instrumental section is layered with synth arpeggios. Albeit slightly predictable, there is a reason that this is idiomatic of this genre of music, it just works so well.
I first heard Cannons in 2020 with the single Fire for You featured on Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, and I thought back then that they were worthy to top any of the independent charts. Despite their recent success, I still believe they’re a criminally underrated band and I hope that their impending project, due later this year, will further consolidate their ever-growing presence in the alternative music scene.