Track of the Week ★★★★★
Dodgy – “Hello Beautiful”
Flip Flop Records – Out 26th September 2025

Well, hello again. And hello beautiful indeed. After a decade away from the studio, Dodgy have returned – not with a whisper, but with a full-hearted, sun-kissed anthem that feels like a warm hug from an old mate.

Their new single “Hello Beautiful” is everything you’d want from a Dodgy comeback and more: shimmering, skyward guitars, golden harmonies, and that trademark sense of hopeful joy that’s always set them apart from their Britpop peers. It’s not just a song – it’s a moment. And it proves that while times may have changed, the essence of Dodgy remains gloriously intact.

The single is the first taste of their forthcoming sixth album due next May – and if this track is anything to go by, we’re in for something special. There’s a wisdom here, a lived-in soulfulness, born of ten years of reflection, growth, and sheer love for what they do. But crucially, there’s no rust, no nostalgia trap. Dodgy still sound fresh, relevant, and completely in their element.

From the very first strum, “Hello Beautiful” beams with positivity. It’s a melodic tonic in a chaotic world – the kind of track that can turn a grey morning into something golden. Frontman Nigel Clark delivers each line with heartfelt conviction, and drummer Mathew Priest holds it all together with the same effortless groove that defined the band’s 90s heyday.

And let’s talk about that chorus – it lands like a classic straight off Free Peace Sweet, but with a maturity and weight that shows just how far the band have come. This is Dodgy in full bloom: tight, tuneful, and totally timeless.

To mark the release, the band are throwing it all the way back to where it began – with a special launch event at Bacchus Wine Bar, Kingston, on Friday 26th September. That’s exactly 35 years to the day since the original Dodgy Club opened its doors. Full circle stuff. Emotional scenes guaranteed.

Add in a full UK headline tour, a winter run with Black Grape, and a brand-new album on the way, and it’s safe to say Dodgy aren’t just back – they’re back where they belong.

So here’s to one of the most lovable acts of the Britpop generation reclaiming their crown – not with nostalgia, but with heart, grace, and a belter of a tune. “Hello Beautiful” is everything you could want from a comeback single: vibrant, classy, and utterly life-affirming.

Welcome back, lads. We’ve missed you.

“Hello Beautiful” is available to pre-order exclusively via Banquet Records: https://shorturl.at/Ljqb7