Following 2024’s LP Postindustrial Hometown Blues, the Walsall duo of Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney return with their distinctive, Midlands earthy drawl, drolly humorous, dark and oddly profound, poetic lyrics on the absurdity of life, filled with killer lines, many animal metaphors, spoken and sung to punchy post-punk and experimental sounds. The Mess is a dark, plodding, stylish, arresting opener, a droll-angry mental health apology” “I’m in a game of mental chess … the patterns are a mystery … I’m stuck inside my head like something sticky.” The single God Save The Pony is a punchy crowd-pleaser: “Every band is a big band to someone, even if it’s the cunts that’s in it …” and about how we are metaphorical tired horses dragging a personal load and often that of others. Hug A Bastard is an amusing approach to coming face to face with yourself (“Find God? Mate, I can’t find my keys …”)'; Domestic Bliss is perhaps the highlight - using the myth of Sisyphus and other philosophies about life’s struggles (“that’s a man in the fuckin’ moment”) and the brilliant line: “I thought astronomy was a sandwich meat”, as well as the closer, yet another equine metaphor, the wistful, electronica-filled, tender Thin Horses, it’s an album filled with tasty asides, catchy riff songs, such as Professionals), and even a few beautifully sad, poignant moments. Clever work with more depth and subtlety than at first appears. Out on SO Recordings / Silva Screen Records.
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