A great writer once said that we fall in love much the same way as we fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. It’s a sensation that feels all too familiar when listening to the debut single from dreamy Americana outfit Proper Youth. The wistful opening reminiscent of Springsteen’s ‘I’m On Fire’ is the first spark that leads you to believe you’ve found something special. The bright harmonies and the warm embrace of synths and steel guitar feel so welcoming and familiar, like meeting someone new who you can talk to like you’ve known them your whole life. When the sax solo drops you’ve hit the point of no return, that rush of dopamine akin to looking into someone’s eyes and seeing everything you could wish for, and by the time the chorus kicks in again you find you’ve fallen deep without even realising it. Though ‘Off My Mind’ deals with trying to shake off those feelings and deny what the heart truly feels, I have no reservations about declaring my love for this song. I haven’t been this impressed by a debut single in a long time, and it leaves me hopeful for whatever 2020 has in store.