New Video: Anxious - Counting Sheep
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📷 Rebecca Lader
The idea that sleep is a window to the soul has been explored by philosophers and deep thinkers for as long as we've been looking to explain the nuances of our own consciousness. For the ancient Greeks, sleep was a unique state that offered us access to the psyche, it led to Aristotle calling this state of semi consciousness the "the borderland between living and not living".
Sigmund Freud later took it further, considering dreams to be the "royal road" to unconsciousness, believing that learned defensive mechanisms of the ego are lowered during the process and repressed thoughts and memories make themselves known, albeit not always in a linear fashion. As with anything in life, balance is necessary for us to process. Sleep may well be a evolutionary hangover, but we need it as much as we need water, food and shelter.
Yet, so many of us struggle to get as much as we should. It can be difficult to get to sleep in the modern world; the brain can replay the day over and over again and before you know it, it's almost time for your alarm to go off. Perhaps it's time to go back to basics - put down the phone, read a book and start visualising a large number of farm animals.
I should probably take my own advice.
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Connecticut punks Anxious are back with new single 'Counting Sheep', the lead single from their February 2025 album Bambi, due to come out on Run For Cover Records. The follow up to their debut Little Green House, Bambi shows a band that have raised their game, embracing a more sonically ambitious approach whilst also maintaining the grit and dynamism of previous material.
Anxious comprise of vocalist Grady Allen, guitarist/co-vocalist Dante Melucci, drummer Johnny Camner, bassist Sam Allen and guitarist Tommy Harte and released their debut Little Green House in 2022. The band wrote the majority of Bambi whilst extensively touring the U.S, combining a draining schedule with finding the time to record new material.
From the opening strains of 'Counting Sheep', it's clear that Anxious have shifted gears significantly. The attention to detail of this track shines through, with a guitar tone that shines brightly blending well with lush harmonies, before exploding into a wall of distortion and passionate drumming. The singalong chorus crosses over into a realm of early 00s Post Hardcore, Emo and Pop Punk, yet it seems like a modern take and not as dated as some as that can sound. There are also some unexpected inspirations to this track.
Guitarist and co-vocalist on the track Dante Melucci explains more about the unexpected origins of the song saying:
"This one is totally insane...I had the idea that I could turn the vibe of the Gorillaz self-titled record into a cool Anxious track, and for once I has the verse, melody and the quick 16th rhythm pacing I knew it was gonna be the best song. It's about being lethargic and wasting your time and hiding, all because you're too afraid to confront just about everything." The video shows the band playing live in an empty theatre as a teenage girl tries to sleep amongst the noise. Check out the video above.
As ever, we recommend you buy 'Counting Sheep' directly from the band's Bandcamp, preferably on Bandcamp Friday in order for the artists to maximise benefit.
You can help support independent music writing at the Q.R code above by buying NNWNF a Coffee; mine's a metaphorical flat white.
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