B-Side Guys

Twenty-five years creates space for perspective. Oxford trio Unbelievable Truth—whose initial run yielded a No.11 charting album and devoted fan base before their 2000 disbandment—return with “Madison,” a track that demonstrates how time can refine rather than diminish creative chemistry.

The second single from their forthcoming EP ‘Citizens Band’ (released March 21st via Noosphere Records) finds the band mining emotional terrain that feels both timeless and earned. When vocalist/guitarist Andy Yorke notes that some of their new material has him “looking back at the past and some moments in my life which have had a really big impact on me,” the resulting song substantiates this observation—”Madison” examines the specific damage that “two broken people can hurt each other, even if they don’t mean to” with unflinching clarity.

What distinguishes the track from other slowcore-adjacent offerings is its narrative construction. Through fragmented third-person accounts of Madison’s declarations—”no I won’t come home” and “if it hurts then I’m in”—Yorke creates emotional distance that makes the eventual first-person perspective shift more affecting. This structural choice turns what might have been merely confessional into something more cinematically nuanced.

The arrangement balances warmth and restraint, with Jason Moulster’s bass work providing both melodic counterpoint and emotional foundation. Drummer Nigel Powell demonstrates particular sensitivity to dynamics, creating rhythmic architecture that supports rather than dominates the composition’s delicate emotional trajectory. The production choices enhance this approach, achieving the remarkable feat of sounding both contemporary and consistent with the band’s earlier output.

Most compelling is how the track explores the aftermath of connection rather than its dissolution. When Yorke delivers lines about the “merciful killer remark” and thoughts left unexpressed (“I wish you all the best, my love—Madison thought, but didn’t say, that one”), he captures the particular pain of words withheld rather than those exchanged. This thematic nuance elevates “Madison” beyond conventional breakup narratives.

The recurring refrain “And all the things we said, they didn’t mean a thing—so people keep on telling me” demonstrates how outside perspectives often fail to capture emotional truths, creating dissonance between social expectation and personal experience. This tension between interior reality and external assessment gives the song universal resonance despite its specificity.

“Madison” serves as evidence that Unbelievable Truth’s unexpected reunion—initially meant just to commemorate the anniversary of their debut—has produced something far more substantial than mere nostalgia. As bassist Moulster noted, that “ineffable but very tangible chemistry” between the three musicians has indeed “in no way diminished with time,” suggesting their upcoming UK tour and promised future releases may fulfill the considerable promise of this haunting return.