This week marks the debut release of London-based, intercontinental Americana five-piece, Golden Spike. The band are set to release their debut EP, Whom Shall We Shoot tomorrow, and today we’re delighted to premiere the video to their new single, Young & Useless.

The American-Australian-Northern Irish quintet cite influences including R.E.M and The Go-Betweens, so it’s perhaps no surprise that they’re such masters of melodic yearning. Young & Useless, the EP’s closing track, builds from a swaying acoustic guitar and gentle percussive notes, to a soaring chorus resplendent with three-voiced harmonies, which truly showcases their love of Michael Stipe and co. Elsewhere in the gorgeously downbeat organ breakdown there’s hints of The Decemberists, with whom singer Aidan O’Neill’s vocal certainly bares comparison.

The accompanying video splices together archive footage of secondary school parties; a world of hot dogs, awkward dancing and failed romantic adventure. The same nostalgic quality floats through the lyrics that urge the listener to think back to the simple joy of being, “young and useless” and to hang on to, “your teenage loves, and your Vaseline and your black leather boots, and take me dancing.” It’s a band with the wisdom of age, advising the youth to not grow up too quickly, and not extinguish the flames of young love before they’ve left their indelible mark.

Whom Shall We Shoot is out June 3rd, click HERE to pre-order your copy. Golden Spike’s EP launch takes place June 4th at The Gladstone Arms in Borough – head HERE for more details.