Photo Credit: Harry Miles-Watson & The Union
My first introduction to Harry Miles-Watson & The Union was all the way back in April 2024 when they opened for FAEDA (formerly Forgetting the Future) at Summerhall and since then, I’ve been hooked. So it’s a real delight getting to write about their latest venture, ‘The Dog’.
It’s certainly a peculiar but very entertaining tune. A four-minute whirlwind that both answers and leaves you with so many questions, like what even led to this fever-dreamesque song coming into fruition? (Although, don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining because it’s amazing, no matter what led to its inception).
Starting off melancholic with Miles-Watson’s beautiful and somber vocals, you’re led to believe that it’s going to be a touching song about grief and doing what’s right for your furry friends “with legs so sore, this life’s a bore / our boy’s in pain and there he’ll stay” but as the song progresses, your expectations shatter around you.
Hinging on crazy, you can’t help but dance as it quickly descends into chaos. The deranged tone pushes us onto a different path as proven by the humorous lyrics including “at least he won’t trample on my orchids anymore / a little cyanide will make the howling go away” and the thrilling chants of “honey, let me kill the dog!” which concludes the song.
Photo Credit: Harry Miles-Watson & The Union
The Edinburgh band undeniably know how to craft a song. Tantalising trumpet and sax solos (Ben Morren and Ben Evans respectively) alongside the jangly keys which infuse the track, make it as catchy as it is dark. Paired with the punchy drums (courtesy of the fantastic Andrew Arstall) and the changes of pace throughout, it keeps you gripped. The heavenly backing vocals add a refreshing complexity to the song, making for an immediate earworm that you can boogie your little heart out to.
An emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, but always compelling, the song is the band summed up brilliantly. Intense, striking and always fun, you really wouldn’t expect anything less from those in the Union. All that’s really left to ask now is where will they go next?