Team Waterpolo - So Called Summer

Words: Carla Washbourne

So Called Summer is without doubt one of the most subtly anthemic indie songs of the year. Not only is it filled to the brim with unexpected touches – glockenspiel, choral breakdowns, face melting guitar escapades and the ubiquitous hand-clap – every move is carried out with such great disregard for the normal boundaries of a popular track, cramming at least three separate ‘themes’ in to a scanty 3 minutes 40.

The introduction builds up a Jekyll and Hyde clash of hope filled, tambourine driven refrain, and fret stabbed, tortured cries of “Summer’s been a waste of time”. The climax of the track is a suspense ridden vocal phrase, crescendo-ing with the cumulative bile of each and every youngster disappointed with this year’s sodden festival season. Team Waterpolo certainly are the credible voice of disenchanted youth, though, you know, not all THAT disenchanted. Where others have tried and fallen by the wayside, Team Waterpolo manage to knit opposing ideas in to the most sumptuously ambitious track; pop music with multi-instrumental madness – it can be big and clever if you have the skill make it such.    

Released: 27.10.08