Southampton quartet and local legends The Dead Freights announce the release of their new single ‘Sufferin’ Safari’. Recorded at Sunrise Studios with Marc Burford and Undy Hunt (Echotape) mixed by Josh Ager (Beabadobee), the single’s title is a devilish twist on The Beach Boys’ ‘Surfin’ Safari’ but delivered with a grungy snarl.
‘Sufferin’ Safari’ is the third in a string of four releases recorded throughout lockdown with the first two singles ‘Stray Dogs’ and ‘Fever and the Thunder’ both receiving rave music reviews, Louder Than War premieres, BBC Radio Solent ‘Track of the Week’ and This Feeling’s ‘Track of the Day’, as well as national radio play.
‘Sufferin’ Safari’ refuses to adhere to a regular pop-structure. The 70s style fuzz on the guitars compliments their strategic spacing within the tune and teases the musical direction The Dead Freights are heading in whilst taking a slightly moodier detour than their previous two outings. With borderline doo-wop backing vocals, the tune is a combination of the eras whilst reeking of originality, allowing the boys to pride themselves in the fact they have created something perfectly unique.
As a sucker for a bad pun (especially a Beach Boys one), frontman Charlie James states that the title is part of the song’s gimmick and charm. With the textural backing vocals over-dubbed in guitarist Rob Franklin’s bedroom over “coupl’a gins”, Charlie states, “The first time I sung the lyric ‘All my bad dreams make sense, but the wet ones don’t” to friends, they laughed. Although, in reality there’s probably a sad truth to it. I’ve always liked it when the lyrics carry a sense of comic tragedy.”
“Sufferin’ Safari is one of those songs we didn’t really understand properly until we’d played in front of people a few times,” drummer Louis Duarte adds. “Sometimes your tune only clicks after it’s been soaked in bar juice”
There are plans for a video to accompany the single and the band are currently working on mixes for crowd-favourite ‘Batman’ tabled for release in early spring.
With social distance measures in places, it is going to prove even harder to keep your hands off The Dead Freights. With good looks, charisma and bags of charm, they are a train that can’t be stopped.
Check out previous single Stray Dogs and Fever and the Thunder below!