There is something wonderfully nocturnal about The House Flies’ “Lost Literature.” The Moline, Illinois, four-piece takes the darker post-punk atmosphere that has defined much of their work and gives it an unexpectedly propulsive center. Instead of letting the guitars dominate from the outset, the song begins with its bassline, which became the foundation around which the rest of the track was built.
A groove that knows when to stay put
That bassline is arguably the song’s strongest decision. Joined by a steady drum pulse, it gives “Lost Literature” a hypnotic quality without making the track feel static. The House Flies resist the temptation to constantly introduce new sections. Instead, repetition becomes part of the composition.
It suits a band whose music sits somewhere between post-punk, goth, shoegaze, and heavier alternative rock. Compared with the previous single “Derelict Crawl,” however, this is the more melodic and immediately accessible side of their upcoming record.
You may also like listening to: Firefly Search Party’s “Sing Me a Song” Is Instant Good Energy With Happy Riffs, Dreamy Vocals, and Folk Charm
Driving somewhere, without needing a destination
The lyrics make the repetition even more effective. Images of rental cars, porch lights, clover and quiet radio static appear almost like fragments retrieved from memory. Vocalist and guitarist Alex Riggen has described imagining two people in a familiar small Illinois town, comfortable enough to sit together without speaking but carrying an urge to leave. Eventually, they get into a car and drive without much of a destination.
Latest news: Ed Sheeran and Macklemore over Palestine Controversy – UPDATE
That image gives “Lost Literature” its emotional weight. The song circles questions of memory and identity without resolving them. Who are we now compared with the people we remember being? The House Flies wisely leave that question hanging.
There is melancholy here, but there is movement too. “Lost Literature” feels like driving through somewhere you once knew intimately and realizing that both the place and the person looking at it have changed. The track previews Lions and Ore, The House Flies’ seven-track sophomore album, due November 6 via Wilhelm & Sons Entertainment Company.
Follow The House Flies on Instagram.
I listen, overanalyse, and write about it. The bassline usually gets special treatment.
