Cult groups are built on the internet but made in the concert hall. bar italia have proved their cult-status mettle over the past five years with plentiful output bolstered by worldwide touring, something they’re only building on with the release of their latest single ‘Cowbella’, alongside the announcement of broad European and North American tour dates this year.
Following on from 2024’s EP ‘The Tw*t’s’, ‘Cowbella’ is a return to slacker rock form for the London trio. Blending a motorik Bloc Party drive with a fuzzed out vocal and guitar pairing, bar italia are bolder and weightier than ever. The shifting vocal lines between the trio keep things dynamic and fresh, with Nina Cristante’s equable tones contrasting to the wild exaggerations of Jezmi Tarik Fehmi. A sparkly and psych-inflected coda closes the track with a bright openness reminiscent of early 90s Sonic Youth – a highlight of the bar italia oeuvre.
Without reinventing the wheel, ‘Cowbella’ signifies bar italia returning with gusto and grit. Ahead of new music debuting at their upcoming sold out 93 Feet East show on Thursday, bar italia are set to confirm they are worthy of all hype typed out about them.
Photo by Rankin
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