British indie-pop legends Heavenly have released their first single in 29 years, ‘Portland Town’.
Formed in 1989 from the ashes of short-lived twee-punk band Talulah Gosh, Heavenly were mainstays of the 90’s indie-pop scene. Recently, the band has gained a new and well-deserved following amongst younger listeners, with songs like ‘P.U.N.K Girl’ gaining streams and TikTok “likes”.
‘Portland Town’ is about embracing being on the margins of a society ruled by conformity, with resonating lyrics like:
“I don’t have to be where people love me / They don’t have to care where I’ve been / I just want to be where no one stares at me / I just want to feel I fit in.”
This song has everything that makes Heavenly’s music so great – vibrant punk energy mixed with a heartfelt pop sensibility, and the trademark duelling vocals of Amelia Fletcher and Cathy Rogers. There’s an optimism to their music – something, I think, we can all agree is needed now more than ever.
‘Portland Town’ has been released ahead of the upcoming vinyl reissue of the band’s fourth, and final, album, Operation Heavenly.
Find Heavenly on Instagram | Bandcamp | Facebook