Blue Bendy have always revelled in being undefinable. Since forming in 2017 on the cusp of the effervescent Windmill scene, the south London sextet have become known for inventive, singular art-rock that sits somewhere between post-punk intensity and theatrical, eccentric pop quirkiness. Their debut album ‘So Medieval’, released April last year, exceeded expectations; ambitious, witty, and gloriously unpredictable, it cemented Blue Bendy as one of the UK’s most distinctive underground acts. Now, after more than a year of silence, the band return with ‘Poke’ – their first new single since the record, and a striking reminder of their singular vision.
Produced by Balázs Altsach and introducing newcomers Dina Willcock (bass) and Tristan Petsola (drums), the track arrives with subtle shifts in energy yet retains all the hallmarks of the group’s adventurous approach. Musically, ‘Poke’ balances precision with playfulness. We’re first met with Joe Nash’s intricate guitar noodles spiralling around Olivia Morgan’s signature keys, before Petsola’s rhythm anchors the song with both buoyancy and restraint – the result is a feeling of a band more unified than ever. Compared to the density and complexity of So Medieval, the song feels lighter; its textures given room to breathe, making it one of Blue Bendy’s most immediately engaging and accessible works to date.
Lyrically, Arthur Nolan references the once-infamous Facebook poke, harnessing this early internet nostalgia into a discussion on connection and communication in the digital age. What might have been a throwaway analogy in other hands becomes something sharper in those of Nolan. “Is it still hot I poked you on Facebook?” he asks, testing the weight of small gestures in a digital world. Delivered in his half-deadpan, half-earnest style, Nolan’s words jump between absurd, referential, existential, and emotionally affecting with ease.
What elevates ‘Poke’ above the rest of Blue Bendy’s catalogue is the sharpened use of humour to show sincerity. Where eccentricity and whimsy once filled in the spaces between the band’s emotional core, here the sarcastic flourishes become essential, weaving through Nolan’s fervent delivery. The band’s ability to marry quirk with genuine feeling ensures the track avoids irony for irony’s sake, instead presenting something both smart and moving.
As a comeback statement, ‘Poke’ encapsulates everything Blue Bendy do best, perfecting their strengths rather than a complete reinvention. Witty, sardonic, and distinctively theirs, ‘Poke’ is proof that the band remain committed to forging their own unique path – a playful yet potent reminder of their place in the Windmill scene, and of why they matter.
Words: Asa Hill Photo: Jason Sheehan