Hello Cosmos’ "Turn Off the News" is less a song and more a call to arms—an electrified jolt to the system wrapped in distortion, urgency, and unshakable purpose. It crackles with the energy of the present moment, a collision of alternative rock and experimental electronics that feels both restless and resolute. The Manchester-based four-piece, led by Ben Robinson, doesn’t just play music; they craft sonic manifestos, and this one lands like a wake-up call through the static.
Robinson’s voice is a pulpit of frustration and hope, cutting through the haze like a flare in the dark. Angela Chan’s viola and synths weave a spectral undercurrent, an eerie echo of the world outside, while Adrian Ingham’s guitar—filtered through a labyrinth of effects—screams and sighs in equal measure. Beneath it all, Simon Robinson’s drumming is a relentless heartbeat, pounding forward as if urging listeners to march in step.
But this isn’t just sound—it’s message. In an era where headlines scream for attention and division feels like the default setting, "Turn Off the News" dares to imagine something different. It doesn’t just rail against the chaos; it reaches through it, searching for unity, for clarity, for a moment of collective breath.
Hello Cosmos aren’t offering escape—they’re demanding engagement on new terms. This is music built for the here and now, an anthem for those tired of the noise but unwilling to be silent.
Review by Thomas Imposter