Political pop is a rare beast nowadays but this Midlands-based duo make up for it all by themselves as they clearly have a lot to get off their chests.
Employing just drums and guitar their debut squarely takes on government corruption and ineptitude. ‘Recount’ lays bare the Covid death toll, while ‘Sing Me A Happy Song’ is not that in the slightest, instead motoring along with its police siren-style guitar riff as its lyrics ape a complacent public: “NHS is not for sale… I’ll just close my eyes”.
Despite that, it’s all catchy stuff – chantalong ‘We Are The Riot’ is a call to arms against the rise of the far right: “Take back the streets” the shout over an apocalyptic backdrop. It’s a little in the style of early Jesus and Mary Chain or Sonic Youth – distorted urgent guitar, pounding percussion, but with lyrics to the fore.
Its eight largely sub-two minute tunes are over in a flash, message stated and done and to the point, closing with ‘The Million Swords of the Victims of Austerity’ in case you were in any doubt of their leanings. But sometimes it’s good to vent; for this pair if anyone else joins in that will be a bonus.
‘A Dystopian Present’ is out now. A version of this article originally appeared in the Shields Gazette.