A very atmospheric song, and a room filler.
‘Burnt Toast & Coffee‘ is the latest track from Edinburgh band High Fade. The fully independent group is formed by three of the most talented musicians in the country. That isn’t a statement made lightly, each individual has mastered their talent and are geniuses behind their respective instruments. This is their fourth single in 2023 and continues their growing collection of addictive, energy-infused tracks.
Starting off with a catchy riff from guitarist Harry Valentino, and drums from Calvin Davidson, this carries on until around 15 seconds in. This is followed by a crescendo of all instruments, bringing in Oliver Sentance on bass. This accumulation of sound doesn’t sound like it’s just noise, it’s been expertly and carefully constructed so listeners can still make out each individual contribution. Included in this are bass riffs from Sentance which are accompanied by, again, Davidson on drums. Even before a minute into the track, there is a lot to take in. This always works well for High Fade, it is one thing in a long list that makes their foot-tapping funk so noticeable and distinctly theirs. With so much to unpack even in the first minute, it’s difficult not to press repeat to hear it all again.
At around 50 seconds in, the lyrics begin. Another thing so recognisable about their tracks is Valentino’s vocals and the band’s approach to lyricism. In their other tracks, they range from having basically no words, to having them feature heavily throughout. In ‘Burnt Toast & Coffee‘, the lyrics are of an almost conversational, and storytelling style. This can be heard at the start of the verses with wording like “wake up in the morning, quarter past eight.” This approach is similar to many songs by English rock band, Squeeze, who are famous for this kind of method. While singing the words, Valentino’s voice is powerful and is joined by backing vocals from Davidson and Sentance. Leading into a very catchy chorus, the title “burnt toast and coffee” is repeated.
Later in the track, around 2:10, there is a short, but very enticing bass solo from Sentance. Davidson follows on from this with a dynamic drum fill which then leads into an electrifying and unique guitar solo from Valentino. This is the part of the song that seamlessly stitches together the two very different sounding genres of funk and rock. This fearless fusion of two musical styles is another element that makes High Fade stand out from other modern bands. Having heard this song live before it’s release, it is a very atmospheric song. It is a room filler and encourages everyone to sing along, wherever they are in the room.
As they continue to busk periodically in Edinburgh, they have attracted listeners from all over the world. With their incredible talents and ability to creatively combine two popular styles, High Fade have secured their place in not only the local music scene, but internationally too. Recently, they have played slots in festivals such as Kendal Calling, Esk Fest, and Kelburn Garden Party. In October and November of this year, the trio will be heading over to America where they will be supporting bands like Cat Empire as well as throwing in some headline shows too. Things aren’t slowing down for High Fade, they are a band whose determination and dedication to making music they love will continue to create incredible opportunities for them.
Already, this newest song has been added to Spotify’s “Funk Rock” playlist alongside musical legends such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Rage Against The Machine. It has also been named BBC Scotland’s “track of the week”. This gives is the room filler well-deserved recognition and allows more people to appreciate the talent and dedicated work put into the track.