Let’s Play Hangman Again — Divorce’s Latest Single.
© Flower Up & Rosie Sco
Four-piece Divorce from Nottingham have just shared their latest track ‘Hangman’, and it’s a good-un! Led by co-vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Felix Mackenzie-Barrow, the band continue their streak of deeply personal songwriting with ‘Hangman.’ The song, about Felix’s previous job as a support worker, explores the emotional toll it took on him at the time:
“I wrote Hangman late one night, freezing in my mouldy bedroom after a long shift as a support worker. The lyrics and chords and structure came out complete in about twenty minutes, I had stolen Tiger's Ominchord for it, which is not an instrument I would usually use for writing.”
“I only worked in that job for about six months, but it was simultaneously the hardest and most rewarding work I've ever done. The admiration I have for the people I worked with and the people who choose that career is immense. The world of social care is hidden in a society that likes to pretend it doesn't exist, but it is vital and deserves much more focus and investment than it currently receives.”
Divorce are always so raw in their songwriting approach, with Tiger and Felix writing together to build what will be their debut album, Drive to Goldenhammer, out on 7th March via Gravity/Capitol. Their alt-country sound draws on a whole range of genres, with each song taking on its own identity. From the acoustic ballad ‘Antarctica’ to the synth-driven ‘Pill’, this album will, without a doubt, show off the band’s limitless imagination.
Each song they release manages to be so visual through their storytelling, creative direction, and composition—a testament to their brilliant songwriting. One of the standout lines of the single, "I care about you already, I wanna lift you up", is repeatedly sang over and over, Felix overflowing with emotion and care for his work. The video for ‘Hangman,’ which marks Tiger Cohen-Towell’s directorial debut, features a clown, a kite, and a load of flying newspapers—how they make sense, we’ll never know. Yet, the video is another creative expansion of Divorce’s world, and it was a joy to watch.
After ‘Hangman’ and the previous singles of Drive to Goldenhammer, I have no doubt Divorce’s debut will leave a mark on the industry this year. Their playfulness in their approach to songwriting is so admirable, and they own it in every release.
Let’s play Hangman again, and again!
9.5/10
Divorce’s ‘Hangman’ has been added to under the radar’s Elite Picks.
