Jack Hyphen: Not Medicinal 
Digital
Emerging Manchester indie up-and-comer Jack Hyphen releases the vibrant and breezy new indie-pop sizzler Not Medicinal. Having made a name for himself as one to watch with live shows in and around his home city, Jack Hyphen continues to showcase thoughtful songwriting and radiant musicianship on the new single.
Opening with its plucky, intricate and driving bass line which is central to the track, Not Medicinal swells into action through a vale of synth. Introducing a thick, punching drum beat, the track balances it’s vibrant energetic indie-pop underbelling with beautifully crafted, considered guitar work which adds a sense of emotional sincerity and melancholy through the tracks instrumental intro.
Drenched atmospheric modulation and reverb, the guitar lines dance around the soundscape giving an ethereal tone before Jack’s understated melodic lead vocals enter. As the track reaches its chorus, the track loses its gentle fluidity, slipping into a jerky, sharp beat before gliding elegantly back into the main riff.
Later into the track, the track enters a bright and upbeat middle-eight before ending on a climactic final section as the chorus melody rings out over cymbal heavy drums and distorted guitar tones.
Discussing the track, Jack explains: “I am going back to my Alternative Rock roots with this song, written over 5 years ago but revamped as my style has developed. The song encapsulates the feeling of vividly overthinking, and I wrote this to remind myself that the illusions I create in my mind will fade away and are not a reflection of reality.”
Comparable to early Bloc Party, Not Medicinal balances its emotional sincerity whilst capturing a sense of fun and energy through its musicality to create a track which displays restraint and a real musical understanding.
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All words by Simon Lucas-Hughes. More writing by Simon Lucas-Hughes can be found at his author’s archive.
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