Vince Leigh’s Single Review: This City’s Electric – Edit The Empire
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
On their latest release, This City’s Electric, Melbourne’s Edit the Empire does more than just revisit their early track; they’re taking another step towards forging a musical identity. And it’s no mere stroll down memory lane. Instead, they dive headfirst into an introspective journey, revealing their growth from their beginnings to their current, more polished sound.
This City’s Electric combines untamed energy with elements of unsuspecting rock sophistication, like a wild horse in a suit. Frontman Patrick Clark’s blend of heartfelt introspection merges well with the band’s thundering guitars and stick-in-your-head choruses. Reflecting on their journey, their 2017 self-titled EP now looks like the rough draft of something greater.
Their 2019 collaborations with industry veterans Andrew ‘Idge’ Hehir and Simon Pearlman weren’t just a step forward but a leap, leading to tracks like Ray of Light and the original This City’s Electric. During the global lockdowns, Edit the Empire didn’t retreat. They responded with a series of live studio sessions, a bold statement of their commitment to their craft and fans in a time of isolation.
As 2024 unfolds, bringing with it the tantalizing prospect of a record deal, This City’s Electric resurfaces, not as a faded echo of Edit the Empire’s past, but as a vivid showcase of their continuous artistic progression. For the band, this track represents a potent capacity for reinvention, embodying their adaptability, growth, and songwriting skills. The band has candidly expressed their ambition: ‘to create music that is really catchy that people will love and will help uplift people in dark times as well as experiment with new sounds and genres.’ This track exemplifies this ethos, blending infectious melodies with a spirit of exploration.
This his City’s Electric, in its reimagined form, stands as a testament to Edit the Empire’s dedication to their craft. Their ability to evolve while maintaining a core identity is an advantage in today’s fast-paced, mercurial music industry.
