Cork-based indie rock band Little Known are set to release their new single “The Richest Man” this Friday the 20th, which I had the opportunity to listen to ahead of time! Following on from singles “Headwreck”, “Listen” and “Slow Daze” (all of which were showcased by 2FM’s Dan Hegarty as his ‘Tracks Of The Week’), “The Richest Man” is an emotional and guitar rich homage to their friend, Billy, who passed away in November 2023. “It started as an instrumental which was played at his funeral and it turned into a way of processing the loss through writing the lyrics for the song.”
“The Richest Man” is my first impression of Little Known, and what a standout impression they’ve made! I really like this track. The lyrics are simple but very effective at setting the appropriate tone, and the beat is never too upbeat nor too sorrowful. It’s perfectly balanced, with the early plucks of their guitar and the initially gentle vocals building up to the point in which the music and the vocalisations almost entirely take over, which feels cathartic. They have a really distinct vibe, to me, which is classic enough to fit them into the indie rock bracket but fresh enough to show what they have to offer a saturated market.
The band have two upcoming live shows, both supporting the Psychedelic Furs. If you have the chance to swing by Limelight in Belfast on the 19th or the Academy in Dublin on the 20th, I think they’d be well worth checking out, though I’m sure they’ll be gracing a stage of their very own soon.
“The Richest Man” is a solid 10/10 for me, as well as a song that’ll be going right into regular rotation once it releases Friday!
Reviewer – Rachel Cooney