Hailing from Hull, four-piece Lumer have returned with their new single English Dream
English Dream is all deep, brooding bass and sultry guitars. The beat possesses a melancholy air, perfectly apt when you consider the lyrics that accompany the abrasive, guitar-driven melody. Lead singer Alex Evans charges right in when he sings “I’m a dosser by trade, accept a minimum wage. I recall my innocence, I’m just a pawn in the game. But I don’t want, I don’t want nothing from you.” They’re lyrics that take no prisoners and address the social and political issues that our country is facing today. Evans makes a stand for those who don’t have a voice that can shout loud enough and expose citizens’ feelings of unrest. The irony of the title English Dream isn’t lost as Evans sings only of what this country lacks, not what we have to feel proud of or what citizens of other countries would put their lives on the line for.
The chorus in contrast depicts a softer side to Evans vocal and the guitars blend with the beat rather than attempt to jab you. The aggressive beats prevail though, conjuring up images of a dystopian and ravaged England where Evans campaigns for the rights of those wronged.
When speaking of English Dream, lead singer Alex Evans says “English Dream tries to epitomise my cynical view of my country. Why are you supposed to put so much in for very little in return? There is this constant battle, it seems, to find any form of joy in the political and social climate that we are currently surrounded by. I feel that we have to crawl on our knees for our leaders whilst very little is being done in protest from our people.”
Lumer’s debut EP The Disappearing Act was released in 2021, receiving critical acclaim Tracks from the album include White Tsar and Another Day at the Zoo, and the band went on to tour France as well as play at Croc The Rock Festival in Switzerland and Left of the Dial Festival in the Netherlands. They supported Thee Oh Sees in Leeds before embarking on their own UK tour earlier this year. This then spanned into the summer where they played a host of festivals including Levitation Festival in France and Valkhof Festival in the Netherlands.
English Dream is available to stream now. Find out more about Lumer here and have a listen to English Dream below.