This feisty, humorous, angry, intelligent, kick-ass debut by the Brighton queer-punk band fronted by duo Lily Macieira and Phoebe Lunny is an explosion of artful, acerbic attitude and energy, and produced by Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox. Taking aim at all sorts of societal ills from dodgy police (Bad Apple) to dubious office practice (Company Culture), feminist fightback (Big Dick Energy), gentrification (You’re Not From Around Here), class privilege (Filthy Rich Nepo Baby), to the inventively more light-hearted electro-pop list song closer Cuntology 101, Lunny’s vocal performance is particularly engaging, veering effortlessly between sharp aside talk and tuneful rage, her lyrics are constantly sharp and audible, and the band sometimes feel like a British Amyl and the Sniffers, particularly on the fabulous Nothing Tastes As Good As It Feels. It’s no wonder that they’re admired by luminaries such as Iggy Pop to Sleater Kinney’s Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein. There’s a constant, clanging, fuzzing, driving energy from track to track, expressive the band’s live show brilliance. But there’s also different dynamic here, with perhaps the song Love a highlight, with menacing, stormy guitars and driving drums heralding the biting opening lines: “True love is nothing more / Than the wrong hill to die on,” what begins as a visceral dissection of relationships that suddenly goes to a strangely tender bridge section - “Nothing more than the flowers I bought / Empty promises and hand drawn cards / Your high hopes and fingers crossed / I'm so sorry for you letting you down.” With so much to inventively kick against, punk is very much alive and well in 2025, and this is razor-sharp fabulous. Out on City Slang.
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