In case you were wondering, Long-View are the same band that brought us the wonderful (if slightly overproduced) Mercury, which boasted a number of hit singles such as Further and Can't Explain. Their not so drastic name change does not signify a new direction, but the result of a legal dispute with another band called Longview.
The music remains pretty much the same, which means this double A-side of album track When You Sleep and new song Coming Down is seven and a half more minutes evidence that Long-View are one of Britain's most underrated bands. When You Sleep has been remixed here for the benefit of US radio, it's an up-tempo number with crashing guitars and a typically sweet refrain.
Coming Down is yet another Long-View epic that has been a firm live favourite over the last twelve months. Finally put on to record, its entrancing feel recalls The Cure at the height of their powers, and its gigantic chorus puts this in the same bracket as their signature tune Further. If you're not yet acquainted with this band, you're missing out on some great rock music - getting hold of this single should be near the top of your new year's resolutions.
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