Label write-up for this mentions the likes of Bikini Kill, Sleater Kinney and Sonic Youth – comparisons that partially work and that I completely understand, but ones that don’t wholly do it for me. Instead I’m minded of a subset of 90s emo that included the likes of Shroomunion, Bubblejug and The Vestpocket Psalm: wiry, fraught, careworn bands that could sit as comfortably alongside Max Colby as a spiky Quarterstick post-rock act or some downcast Simple Machines-style indie outfit. Vocals are variously spoken, sung and yelled, with fragile melodies bursting into frustrated yells and choppy jags of staccato guitar. The songs are short yet seem somehow epic, with a lot of thought and emotion going into each spidery composition. It’s impressive stuff, and also deeply refreshing – I’d quite like to hear more.
