London-based band The Clockworks have released their third official single, 'The Future Is Not What It Was' - available digitally via the Creation 23 label.

Originally hailing from Loughrea in Galway, The Clockworks consists of James McGregor on vocals/guitar, Sean Connelly on guitar, Damian Greaney on guitar and Tom Freeman (the sole Limerick member) on bass.

The third single from the band offers visceral tight-knit rhythms similar to The Smiths or Idlewild, capturing the foreboding intensity of Interpol or Forward Russia!.

Set to an insistent metronomic beat, frontman James McGregor sings paranoia-tinged lyrics and blurs timelines past, present and future.

'The Future Is Not What It Was’, sees the band comparing the once optimistic visions of ‘the future’ of generations past with the bleak reality that we currently live in.

The tune amplifies the anxious feeling of time running out like an hourglass filling up with sand.

“This song is about trying to bring together two main ideas: The feeling that everywhere you look things are going wrong, to the point of cynicism, and the way that the idea of the future is better that its reality,"James McGregor explains.

"Art and articles in the past would talk about 2020 and expect us to be driving flying cars in houses that clean themselves where nobody has to work. In reality we’re driving third hand Fiat Punto’s to 9-5’s that barely pay the rent. I guess the point is that the lifestyle may change but a lot of the problems are the same."

Written by The Clockworks, ‘The Future Is Not What It Was’ was produced by Michael Rendall and The Clockworks in Willesden, London.

The track has already nabbed the attention of BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac on her “New Names” showcase, BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq on his ‘Recommends' show, as well as Rodney Bingenheimer's SiriusXM show in the US. The indie-rock group have also received day time radio play on RTÉ 2FM, so it's time to pay attention.

The quartet relocated to London in 2019, signing to Alan McGee's new record label 'Creation 23'.

Impressing audiences across Europe with sardonic commentary and irrepressible sonic tenacity, the high-energy band have made appearances at Eurosonic and Electric Picnic.

Around the release of their new single, the band were due to embark on a European tour before the coronavirus pandemic caused the dates to be rescheduled.

Major festival appearances at the likes of Live At Leeds, Cork Indiependance and Camden Calling, as well as multiple dates in support of Inhaler were on the cards, but The Clockworks will be back performing as soon as they can.

Watch the nostalgic-style video for 'The Future Is Not What It Was' below: