Buzz Cutz Part 3 is the latest in an irregular regular series of short, sharp reviews in an attempt to catch on a backlog of releases…. so without further ado, Lambrini Girls have something to say.
Lambrini Girls – You’re Welcome EP
You’re Welcome is a lesson, nay a warning for all homophobes, transphobes, Terfs, sexists, toxic males, dinosaurs in the music industry, white van men, and generally just those who are too stupid to understand a way of life that doesn’t fit their own narrow blinkered view (case in point, extraordinary single – Help Me I’m Gay)… I could go on, you name it, they’re a target for Lambrini Girls and fuck me, they don’t miss their targets. Lambrini Girls go straight for the jugular as they deliver their unambiguous messages, bursting into your eardrums with a fierce energy like the release of a tightly coiled spring, their songs are akin to an incandescent ball of rage erupting in furious tirades against inequality, hatred and intolerance. Their music, like the lid violently blowing off a pressure cooker feels like an incendiary unholy alliance between Savages, IDLES and Amyl & the Sniffers, and I use the word violently judiciously – Lambrini Girls use words as weapons unlike the physically violent behaviours described in the anti overt toxic masculinity anthem Lads Lads Lads. The EP opens with a no holds barred diatribe on the male stranglehold on the music industry, when was the last time someone asked you about your favourite male fronted band? Exactly! JK and her pals get a roasting in Terf Wars, “you’re not a feminist, you’re a stain on this earth, shut your stupid fucking mouth, you stupid fucking terf”. Don’t miss this livid ball of rage when they appear in The Hug and Pint in a couple of weeks, and if you’re lucky enough to be going to see Iggy Pop and Blondie in Crystal Palace, don’t suffer from FOMO, do yourself and favour and get there for Lambrini Girls opening the day in a vociferously boisterous manner.
Ex- – 13 EP
The night after Lambrini Girls I’m gigging again, this time a triple bill featuring Bathgate Psycho-punks Buzzbomb, Glasgow’s Two Sevens and this lot, led by prolific writer, the talented Colin Meek. As you may have guessed by the title, this is the bands 13th release, and unlike the connotations of the number, there is nothing unlucky in store for anyone who takes time to listen to the latest collection of songs on this four track release. As I’ve come to expect from the band, Ex- 13 is packed full of addictive melodies, and dynamic riffs akin to bands from that first wave of punk, may I be as bold as to say, straddling the Atlantic and perhaps leaning more towards the US punk/proto punk scene, which is no bad thing in my opinion. But I’m not ging to open that old “who created punk” wound. There are plenty of others with “I’m more punk than you” credentials who would rather waste their time going down down that wormhole and live in the past rather than just appreciating great music. Which, let’s face it, is exactly what Ex- create, good old punk rock ‘n’ roll. Actually, as I type this while listening to the EP once again, and Static booms out of the speakers, the driving rockin’ riffs probably have more in common with the likes of dare i say Guns n Roses and Velvet Revolver, so do yourself a favour, buy the EP and crank up the volume, I’m sure your amp goes to 11, and come along to the 13th Note on the 17th of June for a cracking trio of bands.
Ex.13 | Ex- (bandcamp.com) / Facebook
Big Girls Blouse – Man Up EP
One of Glasgow’s best new(ish) bands released their Man Up EP a couple of months ago, at what by all accounts (unfortunately I couldn’t make it…) was a raucous thrill ride of a gig in The Old Hairdressers. Big Girls’ Blouse first grabbed my attention with their single Rock n Roll Hit of September which was a huge breath of fresh air, sinking its hooks into me and not letting go. Since then they have only got better and better with each release. With the wittily quirky and exhilaratingly indefatigable rollercoaster ride of Everybody Nearly Dies all the Time and their own take on the reclaim the streets messaging in the form of the gloriously powerful I’m Scared of Men preceding the release of the EP, the additional songs on the release only served to solidify the quality of the bands unique take on left-field guitar led pop. Sharks takes no prisoners with its manic rocket fuelled energy and buzzsaw guitars, the song takes me back to the likes of Dog Faced Hermans meets Daisy Chainsaw, while the EPs last track brings the frenzied energy down a bit, the vocals and arrangement demonstrating a more reflective mood, almost at times harking back to more of a rock n roll/rockabilly warm chiming guitar sound. I for one am excited to hear what comes next from Big Girl’s Blouse, and I resolve to ensure I get to a gig as soon as humanly possible
Casual Worker – Model Number EP
Having now seen Casual Worker live twice, it’s about time I put finger to keyboard and paid homage to the recorded output of this most absorbingly contemplative Glasgow band. Model Number is the band’s latest EP, with the CD version, released on Last Night From Glasgow featuring the three EP tracks plus previous singles, the exquisite Allison Street, giving away the band’s Southside roots, alongside the electro throb of Everything and the handclap laden infectious bass heavy Mousetrap, as well as the dramatic Chem 91 and the affectingly brooding but simultaneously uplifting closer Mother. The duo, Eve King and Hamish Wickham create a sound that is hard to pigeonhole, sitting somewhere between 80’s darkwave/goth, inspirational soaring dream pop, and richly engaging electro synth dance beats. The EP opens with Eve’s intoxicatingly hypnotic vocal on Model Number asserting that “a message for you, is coming in” over (sorry for the comparison once again!) what can only be described as a Cure-like bassline and mesmerizing synth melodies. Flooding opens with a moody rhythm, not unlike Depeche Mode at their darkest, with another enigmatic and alluring vocal courtesy of Eve. Decoder is a dystopian vision of the future, lyrics like “memory… you are destined to be digital”, and “a commodity, that’s how they’ll remember me” predicting a future that may not be that far away, all over an infectious dance beat and angular guitar riffs. The future for Casual Model is bright, and that future also holds another opportunity to catch them close to home as they support fellow locals Brenda at the album launch gig in The Glas Cafe in July.
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