SINGLE REVIEW: Cadbury Get The Jet – HB Pencil
If you thought a song about romantic missteps and crumbling friendship couldn’t sound like sunshine in audio form, ‘HB Pencil’ will prove you wrong. Cadbury Get The Jet’s latest offering opens with a deceptively gentle acoustic strum, quickly coloured in by splashy retro guitar chimes that feel straight out of a Britpop time capsule—equal parts jangly and fresh. It's a sound that sits comfortably in the slipstream between ‘90s indie nostalgia and the current wave of high-energy northern guitar bands: think Little Man Tate’s rough-edged charm meets The Reytons’ modern bravado, but with a softer, more reflective gaze.
There’s a vocal looseness here that draws you in—a casual swagger that doesn’t overplay itself, just enough to give the lyrics a lived-in, conversational feel. Behind the brightness, the emotional weight hits subtly: this is a track about the fine line between friendship and something more, and the regret that comes with stepping over it. The storytelling doesn’t wallow; instead, it floats atop a hook-heavy arrangement that’s irresistibly catchy without sacrificing authenticity. You’ll be singing along before you realise you’re doing it.
Instrumentally, the band leans into a charming DIY aesthetic without losing finesse. It’s bright, clean, but unpretentious—handcrafted rather than over-polished. The new full-band lineup pays off here: the addition of bass and drums adds a welcome punch, lifting the track beyond bedroom indie into something ready for festival tents and late-night radio spins. There’s a touch of fizz throughout the mix, that effervescent snap you get when a group locks into a sound they genuinely enjoy.
It’s not just an indie banger—‘HB Pencil’ resonates because it keeps its heart visible beneath all the shimmer. That bittersweet undertone gives the song gravity, turning what could have been another chirpy throwaway into something that lingers. Whether you’re nursing a regretful memory or just vibing with the summertime sparkle, Cadbury Get The Jet offer a track that manages to feel both deeply personal and wide open.
