After last year’s phenomenal “Whichever Way the Wind Blows”, it was a delightful surprise to find out that Simon Debanks had a new collection of tracks for us in 2025.  

SideBanks’ deceptively soft, simple delivery and delicate arrangement style couches some really heavy punches, even more so on Little Things than on the previous record.

There are sneaky moments of greatness sprinkled throughout this set of recordings, some that you may not catch until a third or fourth listen (see: the marvelous rhythm section on “All the King’s Men).

For us the most immediate standout track is “Save Your Excuses”, an almost Radiohead-esque number where the music grits its teeth and glares as if to lay the sharpest possible contrast between Debanks’ soothing vocal performance and the real emotional core of these texts.

But repeat listens are always deeply rewarding with SideBanks. Each of these tracks brings forward new gems, new hooks, new stuff to sink your teeth into, with each listen. Another brilliant, beautiful work from one of our favorites.