The Response – Novel Idea: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day
From Christchurch, The Response have released a new single and a new album, both titled, Novel Idea.
Here is the blurb with more:
After years of sporadically teasing singles, Christchurch indie duo The Response have at last unveiled Novel Idea, their long-delayed but highly anticipated album. Initially introduced through a slow drip of tracks, the project took a backseat as the prolific duo immersed themselves in a whirlwind of other collaborations and side projects.
In the interim, The Response released albums under their other monikers, Imperial April and Volts, and partnered with New Zealand music icon Rodney Fisher for a collaborative record. Their fingerprints are also scattered across singles with Emma Dilemma, Katie Thompson, and others, showcasing the duo’s boundless creativity.
On title track, Novel Idea, The Response explore the uneasy tension between wanting to start anew and confronting the scars of the past. Opening with the stark declaration, “Burn everything,” the track delves into the internal push and pull of reinvention, where the desire to move on is complicated by the weight of lived experience.
The staccato guitar arpeggios mirror this emotional disconnection, threading through an unnerving chord progression that feels both disjointed and mesmerizing. The protagonist wrestles with self-doubt in the verses, but the chorus flips the narrative with poignant self-reflection: “Every mistake is a badge that I wear, maybe I don’t need to be repaired.”
A hypnotic guitar melody emerges in the bridge, weaving through the song like a quiet revelation, offering a moment of clarity before returning to the track’s restless energy. Novel Idea refuses easy answers in favor of a more honest reckoning with imperfection.
From the tense, off-kilter energy of Over The Moon to the haunting resolve of Novel Idea the album explores themes of reinvention, uncertainty, and self-acceptance, all tied together by the duo’s signature experimental edge.
With Novel Idea, The Response prove they are as comfortable in collaboration as they are crafting deeply personal works, delivering an album that was worth the wait.
Novel Idea is available on all major streaming platforms on the 6th of August. Fans can follow The Response on social media for updates on upcoming releases.
- Greta Van Den Brink – GIMBGTBLBM: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day - 05/12/2025
- Steve Cropper Has Died Age 84: R.I.P. - 04/12/2025
- PRINS – Heaven Or Hell: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day - 04/12/2025
