Sunwheel are back after a 26-year hiatus. If nothing else their reformation proves, yet again, that there is a fierce appetite for music from bands born in the nineties. After initially dropping that the band were working together again on social media, in the spring of this year, Sunwheel went on to release their first single, Ocean Dust, in August. Now Sunwheel are back with their latest single Ferris Wheels (and Laser Beams).

As with Ocean Dust, the track features all five of the original band from Derbyshire. They are Mark Gould (vocals and percussion), Bobby Manners (lead guitar, keyboard, harmonica & backing vocals), Andy Richardson (guitar and backing vocals), Matt Shaw (bass guitar) and John Middleton (drums & percussion), who all used to play on the university circuit together.

Ferris Wheels (and Laser Beams) is a love song at heart and begins with a shimmering guitar that treads between uplifting and longing. Gould’s vocals begin in the same fashion, ‘I folded like a hand of cards ‘cos I knew my love would eventually break. I avoided full disclosure, for now at least at any rate.’ A few seconds later, Middleton begins to ride the toms and combines with the guitar to create that classic nineties flickering texture. In the first minute, or so, Ferris Wheels takes the best elements from U2, Embrace and The Verve and unites them effortlessly as it approaches the chorus.

As Gould digs in for the chorus and his vocal tone shifts in a manner reminiscent of Tim Booth from James, ‘I should have said how you fill my dreams, pull my heart like a laser beam. You just feel like home.’ The guitars stretch over the arrangement with a sitar-like effect that joins the lyrics and melody together sweetly.

As well as being a love song, Ferris Wheels also has themes of rebirth sprinkled throughout its just over five minutes runtime. The guitars continue to ebb and flow in a way that cleanses the soul and they weave in and out of Gould’s vocals. ‘You offered me a lifeline. You wrapped your soul around my heart.’

The music video for this track is the perfect visual representation of how this track feels. In the video, the band play whilst bathing in natural light from two windows behind them. In the foreground an isolated young man sips his pint and begins to flit about the room as the track builds. For the chorus he moves with an energised focus in time with the band and, in that moment, you can see he is free.

Watch the official music video here now

Sunwheel will be releasing their next single, Northern Lights, on 6 th December 2024.