Rare Monk rock on with “California”

Rare Monk can be added to this expanding pantheon of well-judged angst-riddled groups, today unveiling their latest slice of punchy indie rock.

The Portland five-piece - Dorian Aites (vocals, guitar, keys, violin), Isaac Thelin, (violin, saxophone), Jacob Martin (guitar), Forest Gallien (bass) and Rick Buhr (drums) - lead a rallying cry against apathy in “California”, allowing Gallien’s brilliant bass to lead proceedings, rumbling with its pop-leaning rhythm beneath the gritty vocal melody, which builds in angst towards the tracks unsettling, pumped-up refrain.

“The riots started once the water was all gone / The children learned how to kill,” Aites slurs with a haunting sense of nonchalance, setting the apocalyptic scene that dominates the action; there’s something devilishly emo-rock about the whole affair and it works effortlessly.

Of the track he explains, “'California’ is about mankind's exploitation and misuse of the planet on which we live, how without serious, immediate change to our society on a global scale we will bring about the self-extermination of our species.”

Enjoying support from Zane Lowe, who, like it or not, remains one of rock’s most important spokespeople, Rare Monk are nicely placed to win over fans of more aggressive bits of Death Cab and Modest Mouse’s catchier sensibilities.

Premiering at Best Fit today, stream “California” below; it’s one for the expanding swathes of listeners who like their indie rock gutsy, meaningful and emotionally-charged.