“Alfie” by deary

When Ben Easton and Dottie Cockram first met, they immediately bonded over a shared love of Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine, and Slowdive. All three are obvious touchstones for deary’s fetching brand of dream pop, but the Twins are especially apropos given Cockram’s own delicate, lilting voice. A voice that she sends floating across layers of chiming and glittering guitars on “Alfie,” one of the lead singles from the band’s upcoming debut full-length, Birding, which arrives on the heels of several well-received singles and EPs.

While the Heaven or Las Vegas comparisons go without saying, “Alfie“ ‘s dreamy depths also contain gentle piano figures that reflect Talk Talk’s final days, and thanks to Harry Catchpole’s crashing drums, the song culminates in a climax worthy of any good slow-burning post-rocker. Fortunately, at 7+ minutes, “Alfie” contains plenty of room to accommodate the band’s spacious sonics, and then some.

Birding will be released by Bella Union on April 3, 2026.