Panchiko drops ‘Chimera’ and the glitchy single ‘One Car Hits Another’
Panchiko’s ‘Chimera‘: Finding the Beauty in Collision
The Nottingham-based band Panchiko is back, delivering their third studio album, Chimera, and the highly anticipated lead single, One Car Hits Another, which features the mesmerizing vocals of Mei Semones. This new release not only solidifies their place in the indie landscape but also offers listeners a journey through sounds that are as bittersweet and beautiful as they are chaotic.
The standout single, One Car Hits Another, is a perfect blend of Britpop energy and indie rock introspection, laced with a distinctly glitchy texture. It perfectly captures the band’s unique vision, inspired by the collision of disparate moments—a visual metaphor framed by Andy Wright as a serene waltz of a car crash, where onlookers and roadkill alike sing along to the slow-motion unfolding of the event.
The track explores this theme beautifully: “A hand shake, or a car crash, the matter-of-fact news report describing the incident never makes it clear where the true devastation lies… one car hits another… one hand shakes another; they’re both meetings, technically.” The music, recorded in their own studio, expands across 12 tracks, moving fluidly between balladry, hip-hop, shoegaze, and pop, creating a rich sonic tapestry that defines the album Chimera.
Panchiko’s story is itself a fascinating one. Formed by a group of Nottingham teenagers in the late 1990s, the band spent years developing their sound before achieving sudden, viral fame through a forgotten 2000 demo. After a period of relative obscurity, the group’s music resurfaced in 2016, sparking an online search that ultimately led to the discovery of their members in 2020, resulting in a powerful cult following.
This revival was recognized by the music world, with Panchiko celebrating a significant milestone recently. Now, they are channeling that newfound momentum into a full-fledged release, setting the album Chimera for release on April 9, 2027, via Nettwerk.
The album showcases the deep and diverse connections within the band, with Mei Semones contributing her vocals to several tracks, alongside guests including Billy Woods, Abby Sage, and others. The full tracklist includes gems like “Day One” (featuring Billy Woods and Cotillon), “Runtime”, and the centerpiece, “Chimera”.
The journey of Panchiko is a testament to the power of unexpected connections—a reminder that the most profound moments often emerge from the collisions of different ideas and people. Catch the full sound of Chimera and the electrifying single One Car Hits Another and prepare for the band’s ongoing tour across the UK and Ireland.
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