The Lunar Keys are back with another fine piece of sonic artistry that will immediately appeal to anyone who appreciates clever songwriting and flawless performance. “Pure As Your Protocol” is their fifth standalone single in 2025, arriving after “Dreams Are Never Spoken,” “Bleed,” “88 Train,” and “Life Is A Dirty War,” four incredible compositions released earlier this year that you undoubtedly need to check out as soon as possible. It’s also their first collaboration with Grammy award-winning producer Brendan Dekora, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Muse, and many more. Lyrically, “Pure As Your Protocol” explores the collision between humans and the machine in us, the tension between control and chaos, heart and code. It’s a deeply emotional piece that poses numerous questions, so it’s a highly relatable composition that will resonate with a broader audience. Sonically, The Lunar Keys once again merge complementary music genres with various techniques, approaches, and directions, yet everything feels so well-organised, harmonious, and beautiful. It’s one of those songs that vividly showcases four incredible musicians doing what they love the most: writing, composing, arranging, recording, and performing soulful, emotional, meaningful songs. “Pure As Your Protocol” exemplifies their tremendous dedication to the craft in so many ways, proving that indie music, when done right, can still sound fresh, unique, innovative, and exciting. Perhaps indie is the most dominant genre here, as all the fundamental elements of indie rock and indie pop are hearable during each segment, but they’re certainly not the only ones. Quite the contrary, you’ll notice some of the finest properties borrowed from alternative, synth rock, and synth pop, acting as more than necessary more as enhancements rather than leading styles. Everything is so perfectly incorporated into the song’s core, proving that The Lunar Keys poured heart and soul while writing and composing this incredible track.
As soon as you press play, you’ll notice that these experienced musicians are not joking around with their music. “Pure As Your Protocol” is packed with some of the finest moments in indie rock music history. Each segment carries more than enough catchy, memorable, engaging instrumentations and sharp lyrics that you’ll gladly spin this indie gem all over again. It’s nearly mindblowing how each section, from marvelous verses to anthemic choruses, includes all those beautiful vocal lines, beautiful guitar works, lush synths, intricate basslines, and excellent drumming. The Lunar Keys made sure that the listener remains engaged from start to finish, and they ultimately succeeded in their intentions. The lead vocals act as a centerpiece here, guiding listeners from scratch to finish, commanding attention, and elevating everything to new heights. These vocal harmonies decorate all the segments and orchestrations, emphasizing everything The Lunar Keys intended to achieve with their song. You’ll also notice how the additional vocal layers, back vocals, and sing-alongs give “Pure As Your Protocol” more anthemic vibes. These vocal arrangements are so carefully considered, making this track such a marvelous piece worth revisiting all over again. Of course, there are also interplays between guitars and additional synth works that shape a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. You’ll notice all those tastefully assembled chord progressions and riffs resonating on one side while the catchy, memorable, engaging themes, melodies, and harmonies shine on the other. The synths contribute ambient pads and chord progressions throughout the entire composition, making “Pure As Your Protocol” more complex and luxuriant. Beneath all these marvelous orchestrations, you’ll notice all those vividly hearable, warm-sounding, intricate basslines, rumbling around and offering more heaviness, clarity, and depth to this track. These rich, deep, dense, heavy low-ends not only there to contribute groove and detail, but also act as a binding element between guitars, synths, and drums. Of course, the incredible drumming performance keeps everything in line while dictating groove and pace with all those tastefully assembled, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics.
The Lunar Keys never cease to amaze, and with “Pure As Your Protocol,” they demonstrated how indie rock, when done right, can still sound innovative, like when you heard it for the first time. It’s a deeply meaningful, emotive, powerful composition that tackles all the senses while spreading the important message about the digital era we’re living in. With all those beautiful vocal harmonies, lush guitar and synth works, intricate basslines, and superb drumming, “Pure As Your Protocol” will immediately become a staple on your playlist. Do not miss this gem. It’s available on all streaming platforms.
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