The shuffling beat, warm Scottish accent, and sweet composition on ‘Gutpunch!’ all make for an instantly lovable listen from The Planet Hour.
The Planet Hour are a band based in Aberdeen, Scotland, and masterminded by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jamie Taylor. Starting the project as a solo singer and songwriter, The Planet Hour soon expanded into a band after the successful release of Taylor’s EP ‘Say Nothing’ to keep up with his evolving set of talents, which can be experienced first-hand on their latest sprawling and expansive single ‘Gutpunch!’.
‘Gutpunch!’ was written, as is usual with Jamie Taylor, inspired by real-life events and his knack for storytelling. ‘Gutpunch!’ was inspired by a time when the roof of Taylor’s house was leaking, and I could not exactly draw a line from that to the sheer rocking goodness of the song. Musically, the single is the first to utilize the electric guitar, putting it in the forefront of the songwriting and of the mix. Coming from a singer/songwriter background, ‘Gutpunch!’ departs from the acoustic tendencies of the group, landing on the rich and thick overdriven rhythm electrics that howl and bark beautifully all over it, leaving space for Taylor to howl and bark in turn alongside them, ultimately carrying the long ballad from humble folk-rock beginnings to noisy and intense crescendos.
‘Gutpunch!’ is freakishly catchy and engaging. With its patient build and plethora of catchy sections and riffs, it is a song that flirts with a number of styles, efficiently, and in an endlessly stylish fashion. The Planet Hour are absolutely confident and in control of their latest masterpiece ‘Gutpunch!’.
