Who?
Lee Broadbent -Vox
Joe Martin-Vox/guitar
Eoghan Clifford-Guitar
Ste Evans-Bass
Asa Morley-Drums
The Manchester 5 piece are making huge inroads in 2016 with their post-punk anthems, having played a session for Marc Riley and being championed by John Kennedy.
Here is our track by track rundown of their EP LE Chou, a perfect taste of what they are all about.
Kevin
What a great single this is. It seemingly does whatever the chuff it wants. It draws the listener in to their crazed world immediately and holds you in a blissful state of chaos.
Coming in under the three minute mark is remarkable considering how much is going on. Post punk via the Sonics via T-rex. It’s a brutal assault with great melodies fighting their way out.
Dinner Lady
The first glimpse at their scathing political tongue with jibes at private school kids. Jeremy hardy will lap up the hilarious lines:
“I politely inform her that we’re all out of chips / She gives me a glare / as I bite my fingertips / I offer new potatoes / And she absolutely flips”
It opens with an aggressive funky guitar riff reminiscent of Fat White Family. It serves Joe Martin’s laconic and venomous vocals perfectly, allowing each verse to build towards an explosive end.
This is juvenile, puerile and brilliant. Just don’t eat their quiche!!!!!
Contactless Payment
Again, the humour is rife, as the protagonist wants to return to the pub to drink and share way too much to the staff:
“don’t worry mate you’re not barred / but you are restricted / to the blues you inflicted / to various members of staff”
The hilarious depression continues with:
“I’ll be feeling sorry / watching Corry with a microwave curry”
Modern Lovers’ Jonathon Richman’s unique vocal style gave him an aloofness and coolness few could touch. Martin has this about his him as well but with a wryness and sarcasm of Irvine Welsh’s character Renton. A fine combination.
Austerity Languish
TT wouldn’t be surprised to learn they are fans of Blur’s ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’ based on this song. It has the fiery guitars and abrasive lyrics of ‘Advert’ whilst maintaining the pop hooks of ‘Colin Zeal’.
Their style takes them towards punk and 60s garage music rather than Blur’s punk via Kinks style, but, the spirit of using their influences as a framework to embed their humorous ‘fuck you’ attitude towards life is similar. In an era of such bland identities within bands in the UK, this injection of spirit and insolence is gladly welcomed.
White Noise
This is by far, the longest track on the EP. It is also the most interesting musically. The immediacy of youth culture and anarchic pop songs are replaced with a softer spoken word vocal. It allows for a more thoughtful take on how music will get them through this Tory government.
It takes four minutes for it to truly erupt and it is well worth the wait. There is a sense of excruciating pain and vitriolic resentment spewing Broadbent’s shrieks and Joe Martin and Eoghan Clifford’s superb howling guitars. It is a desperate sound compelling music lovers to pay attention.
Le Chou is available to buy here: