Heartland Canadian indie rockers The Sarandons take solace in acceptance on their latest single “Say When,” an anthem replete with alluring melodies, whimsical keys, swathed in chorus-drenched guitars and lush vocal harmonies, produced by Dan Hosh (Wild Rivers, City and Colour, Glorious Sons).
Following the success of Sightlines, their full-length album which was released at the start of 2023, The Sarandons are already raring to put out more new music. “Say When” draws inspiration from Bob Dylan’s often overlooked 80’s catalogue; records like Infidels, where folk melodies meet modern production plus Mark Knopfler at the controls and on the guitar.
The song begins longingly with a paired back and intimate verse. As the drums crack to announce the chorus, the mood shifts to resignation and the relief that comes with acceptance. Fear, frustration and reminiscence are present in equal measure but ultimately give way to a locked-in outro with soaring guitars, hurtling towards defiant optimism and triumph in the face of pain.
While “Say When” holds a connection to nuanced roots music, it sees The Sarandons driving further down the road of juxtaposition against anthemic potent toe-tapping grooves. “Say When” is a place where careful deliberation and complacency go to die; despite keyboardist Edmund Cummings’ best efforts to lift spirits with bouncy keys, lessons are finally learned. The end result amounts to a song that capitalizes on melancholia and the strengths of nostalgia, all the while paving a road towards the ebullience found in that light at the end of the tunnel.
