Looking at Red Light Factory‘s discography, you’ll probably be surprised to discover that ‘Manson Song’ is their debut single. That’s not to say it’s impossible for a band to come out the gates with an absolute banger, but it’s a rare thing indeed, and yet that’s exactly what this track is. When you start to connect the dots behind the project, their ingenuity begins to make sense.
Red Light Factory is made up of Manchester’s Harry Lavin and Ben Warwick, who some of you might know as Twisted Wheel’s bassist and guitarist, respectively. In February 2020, Twisted Wheel had just come back from a highly successful European tour supporting the legendary Liam Gallagher. We all remember what happened next in that fateful year, right? Yep, covid came along. Trapped in lockdown in their early 20s, Lavin and Warwick poured those hours of boredom and anticipation into this new undertaking.
In ‘Manson Song’, you can absolutely hear all that pent up energy, that ambitious drive, and that northern grit. Not only is the track itself evocative, its title surely hasn’t escaped anyone’s attention. The band explore society’s dark fascination with infamous figures, such as the notorious cult leader Charles Manson.
As Lavin explains: “You don’t really hear songs like Gary Gilmore’s Eyes by The Adverts anymore,
which is a shame, because I think society is more curious than it’s ever been to look through the
biographical lens of notorious criminals and enigmatic cult leaders.”
Taking cues from the enigmatic lyricism of Echo & The Bunnymen and the raw power of Queens of the Stone Age, this track is a potent mix of shadowy post-punk, relentless indie-rock and a swaggering psychedelic undertone. This powerful sound is bolstered by acclaimed producer Dean Glover, whose precise production ensures that every riff, bassline and vocal hits with intent.
With ‘Manson Song’, Red Light Factory have burst their way into our lives and we hope to be hearing more provocative gems from them in the near future.
You can also find ‘Manson Song’ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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