My New Band Believe
“Love Story”
Rough Trade Records
The banality of life is hard to capture in a song.
My New Band Believe makes it seem easy with their latest track, “Love Story,” a stunning multi-dimensional ballad from former Black Midi bassist Cameron Picton. It’s from their debut self-titled out now on Rough Trade.
There’s an urge to compare to the past when something new comes out. That’s fine. In this case, the closest I can come to is the earnestness of the Zombies’ “The Way I Feel Inside.”
It’s all within the delivery, the production and vocal similarity. Picton has got a bit of the Zombies’ Ron Argent in his throat. I can’t think of any other group that matches the sonic sensibilities of My New Band Believe. Contemporary Zombies? Yes, please.
It’s in the lyrics and storytelling that “Love Story” soars. It feels like you’re in the head of someone stuck at work, fantasizing about how much they love their partner that they’re excited to get home to.
This fantasy is poetic, grand and elegant (much like the solo piano that opens up this track), but this is just a Tuesday night; not some anniversary dinner. This is finding the romance in everyday life spent doing the dishes and cooking dinner with someone you could spend the rest of your life with.
I’m not sure it gets any more romantic than that.
You are the love of my life
Nothing compares to
A lonely minute with you
Pull me close in the night
Two knots you tie
To keep me on your side
I’m in the back of your mind
Always beside you
When you feel left behind
You want potatoes or rice tonight?
Pick up some onions
I’m making dinner
It’s a safe bet that this song (and ultimately entire album) will end up on many end of year best of lists. Deservingly so, but it will exist far beyond a critic’s pick for 2026.
The magic of this track is the snapshot of banality that it pins against churning orchestral elements, a soft-handed vocal delivery and lyrics that are so specific that you can’t help but relate to the romance of caring for someone day in, day out – even when it’s trash day and you’ve got to be the one to take out the garbage.
