A.J Galley – Down the Drain: Manchester Has a New Voice of Melancholy

It seems Manchester’s knack for crafting bittersweet symphonies didn’t end with The Verve. A.J Galley’s standout single, Down the Drain, is a stripped-back tour de force evocative of Radiohead’s songcraft, where melancholy flows through the veins of every acoustic chord and sombre vocal harmony. With emotion taking precedence over theatrics, Galley’s voice swells and softens, allowing the momentum to ebb and flow with natural intensity.

Anyone who has ever loved and lost the battle will find swathes of resonance residing within Down the Drain which finds itself leagues away from cliche. At just 22, Galley demonstrates a maturity in his songwriting that defies his years. The track’s progressive arrangement carefully builds to an artfully agonised crescendo, underscoring his command over dynamic contrasts.

Influenced by the likes of Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, and Chris Cornell, Galley bleeds introspective confessions into raw, unfiltered power, balancing gentle verses with climactic choruses that bristle with intricate depth. With Down the Drain, Galley’s place in the city’s sonic legacy feels more than assured.

Down the Drain is now available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast