London dreampop band Mannequin Flowers release their emotional and ethereal debut single Heartbeat, quickly establishing them as an act to keep an ear on.

Source: Popoptica

Here we are, in the liminal space between seasons. Where warm winds shake crisp ochre leaves from branches to rattle along the ground under brilliant blue skies. Darkness creeping in around the edges of the day as dew sparkles on berries fat with stored sunshine. It’s not summer, but it’s not autumn just yet.

There’s a liminal moment captured in Heartbeat, the debut single from London dreampop four-piece Mannequin Flowers too. Here it is ethereal layers of melody warmly wrapping colder lyrical sentiments; this is unrequited love from the person less committed rather than the usual pining lover. The duality of sound and subject, the view from the other side, add to the wonderfully soft charm of this track.

I couldn’t commit to you / But you loved me anyway / I made excuses not to see you / But you waited anyway

Citing references from The Cure to The Cranberries, and Cocteau Twins to Beach House the band formed in London in 2023. They lightly nod to the ephemeral indie pop that’s gone before them, but are already carving out their own recognisable contribution to the canon.

Dreamy as their pop sound is there’s an edge to it, flickering details building seamlessly and a strength and certainty in all the melodic and lyrical emotion. As a track this is well worth an add to your latest playlist, and as a debut it marks Mannequin Flowers out as a band to keep an ear on.