CMON CMON have a knack for writing songs that sound instantly welcoming while carrying far more emotional weight than their hooks initially suggest, and ‘New England In Fall’ may be their clearest example yet.
The Belgian power-pop trio return with another finely balanced mix of melody, harmony and rock-driven momentum, once again working with British producer James Brown. On the surface, the track is polished and immediate, but beneath that brightness sits something distinctly more reflective.
Frontman Jorrit Hermans has described it as the band’s most “Novemberist” song to date, and the phrase fits perfectly. There’s a late-year quality to ‘New England In Fall’ that feels warm enough to draw you in, but tinged with the kind of melancholy that makes even a beautiful melody feel slightly bruised.
Following recent offerings ‘All The Other Kids’ and ‘Turn Off The Lights’ from last year’s Headwind EP, this new single continues that instinct without simply repeating it. The melodies remain sharp, the rhythm section keeps everything moving and the production has enough shine to make the song feel radio-ready, but the emotional tone is a little more weathered.
‘New England In Fall’ was recorded at GAM Studios in La Chapelle, Waimes, during a week spent in Belgium’s Hautes Fagnes nature reserve. Only months later, a devastating wildfire tore through the area, giving the recording sessions an unintended poignancy in retrospect.
Since debut album The Crack and The Light arrived in 2023, CMON CMON have steadily built their identity around classic songwriting without slipping into nostalgia. Their work carries the craft of older power-pop, but the emotional perspective feels distinctly present.
And ‘New England In Fall’ strengthens that trajectory. It’s catchy without being lightweight, polished without losing feeling and bittersweet without collapsing into gloom. CMON CMON may joke about failing to write happy songs, but that may be exactly why their best ones stick.