4 out of 5

Label: Deathwish

Produced by: Will Yip

Deep, emotive lyrics; lush but raw and hard-hitting production from Will Yip; and both Touche Amore and Self Defense Family playing altogether but somehow not overwhelming things. This single, featuring both bands as one, has TA’s hardcore intensity and SDF’s punkier chops, delivering an all-timer A-side and a not-quite-as-all-time B-side. Both are excellent, but the call-and-response style, and slightly more epic sound, of Circa 95 comes across as a truly unique entry; Low Beams is just more standard by comparison – it very much reminds of something off of meWithoutYou’s first album – and doesn’t quite have the memorable hook to make it work as a single. Both are excellent songs, though, and valuable contributions to either group’s discography.