Another fine release from arguably the finest independent label on our shores, Audio Antihero, they continue their Commercial Suicide series of EPs with Paul Hawkins and The Awkward Silences. We’ve come to expect nothing less than brilliantly twisted pop in the series and PHATAS more than continue this tradition with The Wrong Life EP.
From the jaunty ‘The Beginnings of Mr. Hyde’ and the skewy two-step of, ‘Of Course I Stole The Train’ the arrangements are driving and the band bring them home in carefree fashion, leaving plenty of space for Hawkins droll observations to be delivered with a smirk of sincerity.
The closing two tracks are the real stand-outs, with the comic-horror stomp of Johnny – “I’m coming for you Johnny, I’m in your street now Johnny, I’m in your garden Johnny, I’m at your front door Johnny, I’m through your front door Johnny…”, I’m sure you get the idea, stabbing violins and wonky guitars, fun for all the family!
The Wrong Life EP finishes with its most emotive and seemingly least character-driven song, confirming that Hawkins is a seriously good lyricist (“you want some proof that I feel something, I want to believe that I’m not numb, but I know that to let down my defences, will cause the fall of my kingdom”) and The Awkward Silences a proper good band. Rumour is there’ll be a full length record next year, here’s hoping.
- Monoganon - 28 October 2013
- Randan Discotheque - 1 February 2013
- The Voluntary Butler Scheme - 4 August 2011