Though “No Horses” isn’t explicitly about the Trump administration, Shirley Manson describes Garbage’s new single as a “panic attack” that imagines a dystopian, über-capitalist future ruled by a regime that values profit above all else. One hundred percent of the band’s earnings from the song, released today, will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
A continuation of the sober, cynical themes of last year’s underappreciated Strange Little Birds, “No Horses” also reprises that album’s stark, industrial-influenced rock. The track builds slowly from an atmospheric drone to a driving beat, another layer of instrumentation introduced with each mantra-like verse. It isn’t until three-and-a-half minutes into Manson’s cautionary tale before anything resembling a hook emerges. And by that point, the singer has warned of jackbooted government thugs that are usually the province of rightwing paranoid fantasies. A little something for everyone.
Watch the politically charged music video below:
Garbage recently released an autobiographical coffee table book titled This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake. The band is now touring North America with Blondie.
Since 2001, we've brought you uncompromising, candid takes on the world of film, music, television, video games, theater, and more. Independently owned and operated publications like Slant have been hit hard in recent years, but we’re committed to keeping our content free and accessible—meaning no paywalls or fees.
If you like what we do, please consider subscribing to our Patreon or making a donation.