Brighton‘s indie stars SQUID hit the bullseye immediately with their debut LP Bright Green Field that came out in 2021 and went Top-5 in the UK and with
their sophomore album O Monolith they doubled their fanbase.
And here’s longplayer number three, named COWARDS.
New album artwork – Design by Ben Sifel / Photography by Tonje Tielsen.
Press info: “Cowards is about evil. Nine stories whose protagonists reckon with cults, charisma and apathy. Real and imagined characters wading into the dark ocean between right and wrong. It’s Squid’s most courageous album: simultaneously growing in scope
and returning to basics.”
Stereogum says: “Cowards marks Squid’s third album in just under four years and,
ike many of their contemporaries awkwardly lumped together under the “post-punk
revival,” they continue to restlessly mutate far beyond the signifiers of their original breakthrough sound.
The songwriting and lyricism alike sharpen to get to the guts of things, capturing an illness at the heart of the world that only seems to have metastasized during the years the band has been chronicling it. On Cowards, the band’s world and sound alike open up. It feels as if their story is just getting started.”
TUTV: Squid resonate like a volcano in motion with boiling lava streaming
in every direction. Always pressure, tension and danger in the air, but no
explosions. Always eldritch, sinister and wicked, but never soul-destroying.
They easily could be family of The Murder Capital. In the end I’m left behind
with mixed emotions about Cowards.
Singles: Crispy Skin / Building 650 / Cro-Magnon Man
In order to not miss a beat TURN UP THE VOLUME scans the musical
horizon daily, for 10 years now, to pick ace tracks and add 5 new
ones twice per week, to the one and only JUKEBOX that matters.
For a couple of years now TUTV added 10 new tracks every 7 days.
This year we will put 5 new ones in the Jukebox twice a week.
ALL TOGETHER
.
The 5 fresh ones. TRACK BY TRACK
Band: LEATHERETTE Who: Buzzing indie
trio from Italy.
It’s a cathartic breakup song, blending the raw energy of post-punk with the angular charm of new wave. Written from the perspective of an inept and creepy protagonist, the track navigates the emotional chaos of a crumbling relationship, where frustration, anger, and reluctant self-realization collide.
Indie guitar pop/rock at its piercing best.
Both unbridled and melodic, soundtracking
barbed emotions. Bone-chilling whack.
Band: MOB WIFE Who: Irish noiseniks who entered the scene back in 2018 and who draw influences from the American underground by way of Metz, Fugazi, Protomartyr and of course, Kiss. They released their debut LP Eat With Your Ears in 2022.
Rollin’ bass, hyperkinetic guitar riffage,
agitated vocals, aggressive progression.
Grim post-punk turbulence that cuts right
through the flesh. Clobbering knockout.
Joe (singer): “When facing the massive and seemingly unchangeable task of trying to
change our failing political systems, people can understandably feel totally powerless in
their already struggling lives. An easier way is to shy away from it or, worse, resort to blaming migrants, trans people and climate policy for the issues that repeatedly arise in our society. This song is essentially about how people come to explain away the harm they see and do in their lives, be it economically, socially or both.”
Early The Fall turmoil echoes.
Razorblade tension in the air accentuated
by vitriolic guitars, flustered percussion and
upset vocals. To hell with hate preachers.
Cracking stuff.