World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation, also known as WU LYF, is back with a new song titled “A New Life Is Coming,” which is especially interesting because the song dropped on April Fools’ Day. If you know the history of the band in relation to the media, you’ll appreciate the cosmic joke of the song dropping on April 1st. Ian Cohen once summed it up for Pitchfork by writing, “charging desperate A&Rs 50 pounds for a demo; telling the UK press to f*** off, only to have them respond with statements like, ‘they’re reinventing the wheel.’” The band has essentially no social media presence, nor is their music available on major streaming platforms. Joining the ‘Lucifer Youth Foundation service’ subscription through their website is essentially the only way fans can access current news about the band.
Their comeback single confirms that WU LYF hasn’t lost their edge. The Manchester band, who are back after 13 years following their abrupt breakup in 2012, is nothing to joke about with their new single, a massive-sounding song that feels like it came at the right time. “A New Life Is Coming” opens with a slow-burning guitar progression and syncopated drums that lead to a cathartic well of guitar sound and even more emotive drumming as the opening unfolds further. By the time we reach the calm after the noise, we are primed for something that demands our attention and headspace in the latter portion of the six-minute track.
This slow burn, build-up, and unrushed payoff harks back to a time when bands excelled at creating immersive experiences. With indie rock, we never craved the mass-produced sounds, vocal deliveries, or melodies targeted at the mainstream; we sought music we could connect with and share with like-minded friends. WU LYF dropping this new song feels like a breath of fresh air – a band acknowledging the disposability of music and striving to exist outside of that reality. Perhaps that’s why they ignored the press so much. Rather than focusing on comparisons or intentions, this track invites us to listen with openness and acceptance of the band’s vision.
WU LYF seems to have returned at the perfect moment. Indie is due for a shake-up, and with this first song, it feels like the band is signaling that, indeed, a new life is coming. Whatever form it takes, we’re excited for what’s next.
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