Hull lo-fi indie pop newcomers Matt Edible & The Obtuse Angels have just shared their buoyant witty new single, ‘Better Than Oasis’ The track is the latest to be taken from their new album The Optometrist which will be released on 14th February 2025 via Inedible Records. ‘Better than Oasis’ is a love song told through the metaphor of Britpop. Edible sings, ‘I’m better than Oasis when I am with you. We’re Be Here Now when we’re apart, but together we’re albums 1 and 2’ as the song itself references the iconic artists and sounds of the genre lacing in all those familiar 90s tropes with skill, wit and poise.
Commenting on the track, front man Matt Edible says: “As a teenager, I argued with friends. I claimed Noel Gallagher was a rubbish guitar player and I was better. The argument amplified and reached the logical conclusion ‘Yeah, I’m better than Oasis!’. I remembered this, cringed at my arrogance and ignorance, but thought ‘great name for a song’. Is it better than Oasis? That’s not the point. It was good of them to reform for us to make this song more relevant. We should be available next summer should they require someone to go on first.”
The track comes complete with a DIY-homage to Oasis’ video for 1995 hit single ‘Wonderwall’, directed and filmed by Edible and the band.
“There were so many options when it came to making a video for ‘Better Than Oasis’,” explains Edible. “Just like the song, I wanted it to have a sense of humour but not be a ‘joke’. In the end I thought it would be fun to try and remake one of the Gallaghers’ most iconic videos, with our own lofi twist. We went to the rehearsal room armed with just my cheap Motorola phone, mirrored shades and some chewing gum and attempted to replicate Wonderwall.”
Recorded during lockdown alongside new additions John Andrew (Kingmaker) on drums, and Sarah Shiels on bass, forthcoming new album The Optometrist’ is a thrilling new collection of material from the Yorkshire cult hero.
“I couldn’t help being influenced by what was going on in the world at the time but that manifested itself in quite a variety of ways,” says Edible of the new album. “It takes a few shots at corrupt leaders and phoney celebrities who seemed to be making the most of what was going on, but it also revels in the human condition and how humanity is bigger than all of the negative influence we are constantly bombarded with. Of course, there are also songs about existential dread, a couple of bands from Manchester, and a pair of really awesome boots!”
Soulful lead single ‘Triage’ was released earlier this year, picking up spins from John Kennedy at Radio X, as well as multiple BBC stations, Amazing radio as well as a BBC introducing live session for Jericho Keys. The band appeared at Truck Festival and Hull’s flagship Humber Street Sesh this summer, recently supporting The Bug Club on a hometown appearance, with select live dates on sale now and more to be announced.
New Album The Optometrist will be released on 14th Feb 2025 via Inedible Records
Live Dates:
DECEMBER
1st – The New Adelphi Club, Hull (matinee show w/ Stephen Evens)
17th – Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham
Photo Credit : Tom Atkin.
