Alternative indie four-piece band Cosmic Empire have just released their latest single, Right Time on the 28th of March. A song packed with Britpop-style punch, it reflects on indecision, hesitance, and regret, starting their music-making year off with a bang.
Right Time narrates the story of someone who is trapped in a cycle of hesitation, self-doubt and regrets about their life. Revolving around the missed opportunities of love and loss, the lyrics tell of a “one-time girl” and the mistakes that lead them apart from one another. They acknowledge their confusion, openly admitting that they have lost their way countless times and displaying their displeasure with it. The chorus forwards these frustrations, feeling like they have spent their whole life waiting for the “right time” to move forward in both their personal growth and life plans.
The second verse delves into this emotional weight and further describes the narrator’s aimless cycle of how waking up feels easier than facing the emptiness of their daily existence, cleverly describing the exasperation of their actions. Fear holds them back from making the step through the metaphorical door, to change, growth and to freedom.
As the song goes into the outro, the repetition of “all my life” reinforces the desperate longing for clarity and purpose. The ending hints at a turning point, a glimmer of hope, as they finally declare a desire to share their plans and push forward, a call for action that leaves the song on a high.
As for the instrumentals of Right Time, the Glasgow band crafted a bouncy soundscape that is filled with distorted tones and a playful mood to match. The track is built upon a foundation of catchy, riff-driven guitars with some soft synth sounds as an undercurrent that gives it the song that specific Brit-poppy, upbeat indie sound. The energetic drum beat adds a danceable pulse that interlinks nicely with the pentatonic guitar work and backline of grooving bass and gentle synth chords that build the oomph.
The amount of personality and kick put into the song highlights the frames and colour of the song. The instrumentals are paired ably with expressive and drawling vocals that are resonant with the ‘90s, giving a twinkle of nostalgia throughout the listening experience. The result is this danceable, brit-centric arrangement that kicks and buzzes through the listener’s ears, creating a great indie summer song.