The track is a turbo-charged anthem of chaos and charm, diving headfirst into themes of rebellion, fleeting romance, and late-night self-destruction. Peace said that they “wanted to drop something that says, ‘Okay, we’re back’… kind of easing people in before the next album”.
From the opening guitar riff, ‘Harley’ bursts to life with the kind of reckless energy that has become Master Peace’s calling card. His voice, simultaneously brash and emotionally vulnerable, rides the track through sharp hooks and distorted breakdowns with zero intention of slowing down.
What’s most striking is how fun it is. It doesn't pretend to be polished or pristine; instead, it wears its messy, maximalist production like a badge of honour. There’s a punk-infused swagger here that nods to early Bloc Party or The Rakes, but it’s filtered through a distinctly modern lens. Produced by Dan Carey, the cult mastermind behind Speedy Wunderground, the song thrashes with a spontaneity that feels both urgent and uncalculated.
Lyrically, the song plays like a midnight phone call you shouldn’t have answered: “I'm making her feel my mood (I'm making her feel my-) / She’s rubbing me up real slow (Rubbing me up, ah)”, with equal parts of desperation and desire. Whether he’s screaming into the void or crooning through the chaos, Master Peace taps into the emotional volatility of youth with startling clarity. Lines shift between the romantic and the nihilistic, echoing the highs and grim comedowns of nights spent trying to outrun yourself.
The visual for ‘Harley’ matches the track’s sound; a grainy, garage-band fever dream. The video pays homage to noughties MTV2 energy mixed with a reflection of early-2000’s school life in the UK, further cementing Peace’s ability to channel nostalgia without falling into pastiche.
‘Harley’ feels like both a throwback and a leap forward. A track that reclaims the mess and mayhem of early indie sleaze while injecting it with the modern-day restlessness of an artist who refuses to settle.
This is another thrilling instalment in a discography that refuses to sit still. If Master Peace’s upcoming work continues down this riotous, genre-jumping path, he may just cement himself as one of the defining voices of Britain’s alt-pop underground, a shape-shifter in a scene that too often plays it safe.
Amy King
Image: 'Harley / Shake Me Down' Single Cover
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