Words: Ruby Corrigan
‘Gloriously British indie-rock-pop’ band Cloud House have released their first tune of 2024. ‘Broken’, a poignant break up song with a twist, focusing on the pains of a crumbling long distance friendship rather than on the traditional trope of lost romantic love.
It is undeniable that Cloud House has a remarkable ability to capture human experiences and bottle them up into musical forms, and ‘Broken’ is no exception to this. Lead guitarist Patrick Wallace notes how the song ‘comes from a place of frustration and anxiety – wishing you could click a switch and revert to the way things used to be, whilst trying to move on and let them know you’ll always be there for them.’ The band really encapsulates the feeling of losing a friend through the configuration of the song. The shimmeringly upbeat melody full of bold guitars, and cinematic synth sounds perfectly encapsulates what it feels like to have a long time friend, a joyous and fulfilling experience. Yet, the fact that they underscore this with a series of emotionally wrought lyrics documenting the ‘breakup’ of a friendship is extremely effective, as Cloud House are able to showcase how confusing it is to distance yourself from someone you have so many positive memories with.
Cloud House have seriously taken the UK by storm in recent years, for example being described as ‘rising, rousing indie rock’ by Clash Magazine, and chosen for BBC Scotland’s ‘Track of the Week’ twice in quick succession. The 5-piece band has also been crowned winners of the International Rootstock Festival, sold out King Tut’s in 2023, and were selected as ‘ones to watch in 2024’ by Jim Gellatly. It is undeniable that all of these accolades are deserved, and ‘Broken’ is a true testament to that, as not only does the song highlight the band’s musical prowess, but also their extreme sensitivity to the human condition.
For fans of the 1975, Sam Fender and The Killers, you NEED to check out Cloud House.
Rockstars HQ 
Leave a comment