‘Last Goodbye’ by Shape of Water – An Angsty Love Letter to 80s Electropop 

Words: Sarah Milligan

Shape of Water are an electronic art rock band hailing from the depths of Manchester, and their latest single, ‘Last Goodbye’, is nothing short of electronic art rock perfection. With a driving synth beat, undeniable emotion and a mild overuse of ‘80s electropop riffs, ‘Last Goodbye’ combines impressive electric guitar work with truly angsty lyricism. 

Made up of vocalist, bass, and keys player Rossano (Rox) Capriotti, guitarist Luca De Falco and drummer Tom Moks, Shape of Water was founded in 2015 and so far have released two albums and several EPs and singles, staying true to theirbeloved themes of human emotion and determinism throughout their career. 

‘Last Goodbye’ is one of three new tracks on their newest single, and is the clear standout from the distorted sounds of ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ and the punk-rock style of ‘NAKED’ – and complete with an obvious adoration of rock legends like Muse and Depeche Mode. 

The single features heavy vocals and instrumentals, and is haunted by a catchy chorus that comes rushing back every few stanzas – “Alone I stand/Beneath these empty skies/Can’t find my way home tonight/ I just want you here with me, my love/Under the rain, together”. 

There are brief moments of calm, but they are always underlined with that pulsating synth beat that aches to pull you back into the thrumming rhythm, and is unwilling to deviate from the main melody for too long. 

The band themselves have cited artists like Lady Gaga and Freddie Mercury as their muses for ‘Last Goodbye’ and were inspired by “nights out clubbing in Manchester, and blendingelectronic grooves with raw emotion” – a statement I completely agree with. 

The song is definitely reminiscent of that 80s electronica madness, but still remains filled with heartfelt emotion and longing – in the band’s words, ‘Last Goodbye’ is ultimately “a song about love lost, memories that linger, and that bittersweet moment of letting go, set against a beat that keeps you moving even when your heart is breaking.”