The synth lines on Birthday Club’s new single “Having Too Much Fun” sound like they were lifted straight from an “all killer” mixtape of only The Cure’s most body-moving hits. Meanwhile, the guitar plays along with a riff that could have slotted in nicely in any number of new wave comps. But rather than jump on the track with a morose, sad-boy delivery a la Robert Smith, this Houston band sets themselves apart with an uplifting, echo-y vocal worthy of the song’s title.
That’s not to say the song is all party and no pathos. Vocalist and guitarist Stephen Wells (formerly of Featherface) says that he intentionally injected the exuberant track with trace amounts of evil.
“I wanted to write a song that sounded really upbeat while at the same time having a sneaky, sinister vibe,” he said. “Sort of like how cats really enjoy staring into your eyes while they slowly tip over that last glass of Hawaiian Punch all over your laptop. That’s what we were going for.”
It’s an oddly specific (and oddly universal) feeling that they just so happened to completely nail. If the band can wrangle together a few more tracks that hit with this level of intensity, then their debut EP Lighten Up — out September 30th and available for pre-order here — will be a force to be reckoned with. Check out “Having Too Much Fun” below.