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DMA’s are back, first single from their debut LP lands overnight

All’s been rather tellingly quiet on the DMA’s front of late. 2014 was the year they broke absolutely enormous, dropping their debut self-titled EP, touring it with a huge run of national shows including a slot at Splendour In The Grass as well as releasing a couple of well-received singles late. 2015 has subsequently been quiet. A little… too quiet.

On closer inspection, it looks like they’ve spent that downtime getting stuck into recording their very first full-lengther, and last night the lead single from the as-yet-untitled record copped a worldwide premiere on the hallowed airwaves of BBC Radio 1. Have a gander:

If it ain’t broke then don’t fix it, and to that end Lay Down is concrete evidence that the Newtown trio of Jonny Took, Tommy O’Dell and Matt Mason aren’t about to abandon their re-imagined for the 21st century blend of Britpop that captured the hearts of fans around the world (and made Oasis guitarist and curmudgeonly custodian of musical lawns everywhere, Noel Gallagher apoplectic with butthurt) any time soon.

The track is a cheerily upbeat sounding rocker in the vein of previous DMA’s singles like Laced and Feels Like 37, channelling some of the sunnier, shoegaze-ier elements of Britpop practitioners of yesteryear like The Stone Roses. The tub-thumping punk drum beat that kicks the song off and the wailing lead guitar riff are a lovely combination. O’Dell’s Albarn-meets-(Liam)-Gallagher voice never falters and the familiar acoustic-electric guitar foxtrot that adds so much depth to DMA’s sound is ever-present. The chorus chugs along like an overground train and the whole song simply begs for repeat after repeat.

The final mix was handled by a gentleman named Spike Stent, who has also worked with acts like Massive AttackDepeche Mode and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the production is super crisp. DMA’s are famous for their multi-layered wall of sound approach to recording and they haven’t disappointed here.

If the new album is as consistent in quality as this lead single then I absolutely cannot wait. If 2014 was the year that DMA’s broke then 2016 might be the year they explode. We’ll keep you posted on any further singles that may arrive, in the meantime, rejoice as the band are set to play around the country at Laneway Festival in early 2016!

DMA’s forthcoming album is out 2016 via I OH YOU and Mom + Pop