Song of the Day: “New Music” by Totorro

Nov 04, 2025

The French quartet Totorro returned to the scene a few weeks back with Sofa So Good, an album that reaffirms their position as masters of bright, joyful instrumental math-rock. Following a 6-ish year hiatus, the album is characterized by the band’s signature clean-toned, dizzying, guitar interplay, marked by intricate, often frantic arpeggios. Tracks like “Bang Bang“ and “Matthews Bridge“ are immediate mood-lifters, driven by infectious energy and punchy, tight drumming that anchors the swirling melodies.

While some math-rock bands lean into complexity for complexity’s sake, this album artfully balances its higher-octane passages with moments of delicate, almost melancholic introspection. The super-clean production highlights the distinct tones of each instrument, ensuring the bass, drums, and guitars all occupy their own space in the mix, enhancing rather than stifling the melodic complexity of the music.

The third track in, “New Music” is my pick for Song Of The Day, not necessarily because it’s the best song on the record, but because it represents Totorro’s entire sound in one tidy package. The song’s patient, almost post-rock introductory build gives way to a rapid-fire section of interlocking guitar lines, which is arguably the most infectious and hummable melody on the entire album.

The harmonic shift that occurs around the halfway mark is emotionally powerful—it briefly moves into a contemplative minor key feeling before resolving back into swelling major arpeggios, giving the instrumental piece a compelling narrative maximizing the contrast between the quiet bits and the frantic moments… An arc that sticks with the listener long after the song ends.

Check this song out… if you like it, listen to the whole record.