Track Of The Day :: The Assist - Love

Words: Linn Branson

Alt-indie pop four The Assist strike just the right note of rhythm 'n' Britrock swagger in their new single released this weekend, 'Love'.

The band, who hail from Walsall in the West Midlands, are comprised of brothers, Mikey (lead vocals) and Ryan Stanton (guitar), with Jak Baker (bass) and Ben Faulkner (drums), and since they formed two years ago have achieved some fair gig support slots (Happy Mondays, The 1975, Reverend and The Makers) and press coverage through early singles such as 'Control', but not made as much headway generally as perhaps they may have wished, or judging by 'Love', deserve.

The song, the band told Little Indie, developed from "personal experience!" And although not divulging what exactly, they did elucidate a little further.

"The song is about people in general struggling to understand that there is no limit to love and therefore no restrictions. There are many degrees of love and poor time distribution between the numerous important people in our lives can result in complications in relationships. Friends are just as important to love just as much as girlfriends/ boyfriends and both parties should learn to accept that."

Despite 'Love' not being the first single put out by The Assist - though may arguably be the best - you may find it hard to find the earlier works online now. When we queried this with the band it would seem that the new single marks a planned change in direction, and that they felt their old tracks "didn't represent our sound that well anymore."

It's not hard to detect a touch of one of their cited musical influences The Twang in 'Love's melody, infectious beat and Mikey's Etheridge-esque vocals, and one you can imagine livening up a few Christmas parties.