Photo Credit: Milo Costelloe
Brighton’s The Stanford Family Band continue their mission to revive the golden glow of classic guitar pop with “Feeding The Beast”, a wonderfully crafted slice of sunshine-soaked nostalgia that feels both lovingly familiar and refreshingly alive. Taken from their forthcoming EP Go Again, the single showcases a band with a deep appreciation for pop music’s rich history while possessing the songwriting instincts to make those influences feel entirely their own.
From the opening moments, “Feeding The Beast” radiates warmth. Brightly chiming guitars, buoyant rhythms, and effortlessly melodic vocal lines combine to create a sound that recalls the timeless appeal of The Beach Boys, XTC, and Big Star, while drawing comparisons with modern revivalists such as The Lemon Twigs and Drugdealer. Yet despite its vintage DNA, the track never feels like mere imitation. Instead, it captures the spirit of those influences and channels them through the band’s distinctly charming lens.
Recorded live shortly after being written, the song benefits from an immediacy that gives it an organic, unforced energy. The jangling Rickenbacker guitars sit front and centre, wrapped in layers of tambourines and harmonies that evoke the golden age of power pop. Producer Harry Hayes ensures every element is delivered with a warm analogue sheen, allowing the song to feel like a treasured cassette discovery from another era while maintaining enough clarity and freshness for contemporary audiences.
Lyrically and emotionally, “Feeding The Beast” balances melancholy and optimism with impressive subtlety. Beneath its bright exterior lies a wistful undercurrent, giving the track an emotional depth that elevates it beyond simple retro-pop escapism. It shimmers with longing while remaining irresistibly uplifting, a combination that has long been the hallmark of truly great pop songwriting.
What makes The Stanford Family Band particularly compelling is their ability to weave together multiple generations of influence. Echoes of 60s harmony pop, 70s singer-songwriter intimacy, and 80s indie jangle coexist naturally throughout the track, creating a sound that feels timeless rather than nostalgic. The result is music that appeals as much to crate-digging enthusiasts as it does to listeners discovering these sounds for the first time.
With its infectious melodies, lush arrangements, and heartfelt sense of yearning, “Feeding The Beast” is a joyous reminder that great pop music never truly goes out of style. It’s a beautifully realised single that looks backwards with affection while continuing to move confidently forward.
