Ratoon – Are You Feeling Fine? (2026)
Inspired by the likes of McFly, Inhaler and Busted, Welsh foursome Ratoon aim to bring the golden years of 2000s pop-rock to modern-day audiences. A fan of McFly, I was particularly intrigued by this promising band; I mean, who wouldn’t love to find a new Tom Fletcher or Harry Judd on the airwaves? Loud, cheeky, bold, and slightly mischievous, Ratoon set off in 2023 with their Welsh-language ‘Rhywun Arall’, according to Spotify, that is. Last year, their 2025 EP Butterfly Effect really turned heads, garnering support from radio stations like BBC Radio Wales, Buzz Magazine, and Reyt Good Music, to name but a few. Today, they draw our attention with the new single, ‘Are You Feeling Fine?’
Following their single ‘It’s You’, ‘Are You Feeling Fine?’ adopts a more staid, solid, somewhat heavier tone as compared to the lively, upbeat ‘It’s You’. Moreover, unlike ‘It’s You’, the nostalgic whisper of McFly is just that: a whisper. It’s a steadier, more weighty alternative rock tone that glides across ‘Are You Feeling Fine?’, but the glimmer of mischief isn’t altogether gone from the music.
Produced by Richard Jackson, listening to Ratoon’s new single is like setting adrift on a shining sonic river. Matti Huxtable’s bass weaves along as Josh Davies’s drums beat in the background with an almost anchoring attitude. Sam Davies’s guitar floats along, soaring across the black lagoon with cheeriness, while Eifion Davies’s vocals add a heart-warming quality so you feel as if you’re standing next to a friend embarking on a quest.
A steadiness exists in ‘Are You Feeling Fine?’, yet there are waves on that sonic river causing ripples. It’s not an ebb and flow of sound exactly, but the vulnerability and raw emotion heard in the music and the vocals. Rich, almost honey-soaked, but also gritty and rugged. As I said, it’s like standing next to a friend and chatting while embarking on a quest.
This is my introduction to Ratoon, and I’m really excited about the group’s music. If you’re a fan of pop-rock, then you’ll more than likely enjoy Ratoon; if you’re not a great fan, I suggest you give it a go… they may just convert you. Highly recommended!
Find out more about Ratoon on their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Soundcloud and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Beast PR.
