Montello
Reoccurring Daydreams
Lemon Sun Records
Digital
Released 16 October 2026
★★★★☆ 4/5
Subscribe to Louder Than War
(and help keep independent writing alive)
Independent music journalism, interviews, reviews and more.
Wigan and Manchester-based indie quartet Montello return with the raw, vibrant and youthful second EP, Reoccurring Daydreams. A five-track release that sees the quartet continue to refine their sound, blending jangly indie guitar work with the grit and energy of 90s alt-rock, the EP delivers catchy yet emotionally sincere songwriting, balancing the band’s accessible indie tendencies with a nostalgic edge.
Produced by Luke Owens of fast-rising Manchester band Bank Holiday, the release balances melodic hooks with driving guitars and bittersweet lyricism. Drawing comparisons to The Vaccines and early Arctic Monkeys, while carrying echoes of The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Oasis, Montello create a sound that feels familiar without losing its own identity.
Opening with the buoyant energy of The Universe Replied, the band quickly establish a driving momentum, with plucky guitar riffs surrounded by punchy drums and topped with infectiously catchy vocal melodies. These are delivered with a yearning melancholy that contrasts beautifully with the bright, jangly indie instrumentation. As the track reaches the halfway point of its chorus, the band’s maturity as songwriters comes into full view, showcasing a group capable of brilliant musicianship and infectious songcraft.
Elsewhere, Stop The Press brings more of the band’s early Arctic Monkeys-esque grit, with undertones of Queens Of The Stone Age in its unsettling chord structures and fuzzy guitar tones. Eleanor (When Will You Learn) introduces a bouncing summer-indie feel, with a melancholy that dances rather than mopes, evoking the spirit of The Smiths. Meanwhile, Cold Calls pairs a driving, guitar-led backing with fast-paced, half-rapped, half-sung vocals, as soaring guitar work injects a classic-rock undertone into its Brianstorm-esque sound.
Closing track Suit & Tie showcases more of the band’s beautifully crafted indie songwriting, ending the EP on a tongue-in-cheek, bright yet defeatist track about being a creative forced to work the 9-5. Catchy, melodic and whimsical, with a youthful, energetic flair, the track closes the EP with everything that makes Montello such an exciting prospect.
Across its five tracks, Reoccurring Daydreams explores boredom, uncertainty and the complicated emotions that come with looking towards the future. As the band explain, “Building upon the themes established in our debut EP. The songs peruse over feelings of boredom, fear of the future and the palette of emotions that comes with them.”
Since their debut EP, Montello have built considerable momentum, touring across the UK and appearing at festivals including Truck Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival. Support from tastemaker press and continued backing from Radio X’s John Kennedy have helped raise their profile, alongside performances at venues including O2 Ritz and Gorilla, as well as a sold-out show at Manchester’s Deaf Institute.
With Reoccurring Daydreams, Montello continue to establish themselves as a band capable of pairing accessible indie songwriting with a more textured, guitar-driven edge. The band are set to tour the UK with Stanleys from October through to early December. See the full list of tour dates below.
Listen & download here
Follow Montello
~
All words by Simon Lucas-Hughes. You can find more in his author’s archive.
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief