ALBUM: Gen and the Degenerates – ‘Anti-Fun Propaganda’

“I don’t want to shy away from the darkness of being a human. But… I don’t want to be fully consumed by it and forget to have fun, be silly…”

Following their raucous 2022 extended play, Only Alive When In Motion, Liverpudlian alt-punk quintet Gen and the Degenerates – featuring singer Genevieve Glynn-Reeves, guitarists Sean Healand Sloan and Jacob Jones, bassist Jay Humphreys, and drummer Evan Reeves – have released their highly anticipated debut record, Anti-Fun Propaganda, via Marshall Records. Recorded and produced by Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys, Amyl and the Sniffers, Drenge, Gang of Four), the album is a coming-of-age story set at the dawn of the end of the world, comprised of political pop proclamations, queer rock ruminations, and frenetic “fuck the fuck off” attitude.

Opening with the statement: “the truth is, the world is ending,” Gen’s tongue-in-cheek but no less bleak observation sets the mood over pulsating synth and an infectious bassline with ‘Kids Wanna Dance’. Our future is becoming increasingly unpredictable – with volatile politics, economic disruption, and environmental degradation – so why should Gen-Y/Z care? Let the kids dance in their inherited dystopia… We’re desensitized! “The truth is I’m no nihilist / There’s a part of me hoping that we can fix all of this but it’s not looking optimistic is it?”

Featuring Glaswegian punk quartet Uninvited, the feisty ‘Girls!’ takes inspiration from a TikTok trend (Don’t you hate it when girls… no, actually I love it when girls, etc) and transforms societal straight male misogyny into anthemic queer love catharsis. “I love it when they make their own damn money / I’ll be your little bit of sugar, let me call you mummy.” “Uninvited got involved after I tweeted ‘I love it when girls…’ and they replied, ‘Same,’ Gen explains. “I sent them the demo, and they loved it, so I asked them to be on it. It is a product of internet culture,”

Speaking of internet culture, Gen’s sardonic wit on ‘That’s Enough Internet For Today’ is for the always-online dickheads doom-scrolling social media, and sharing hyperbole for likes. “Oh my god, congratulations, you’ve won liberal of the day / You’ve come up with the world’s most progressive take / …and don’t you laugh! / I’m not even started with you / It’s not a fucking party trick to have right-wing views!” For the title track, the Degenerates are no less cynical, ridiculing corporations for making life so fucking boring, rejecting their ‘Anti-Fun Propaganda’ with scuzzy guitar riffs, syncopated basslines, and rumbling beats, inspired by the off-kilter punk energy of Braniac and Parquet Courts.

Following the fuzzed-out grunge of ‘All Figured Out’, Gen takes a moment to breathe, strumming lo-fi acoustic melodies for interlude ‘Plan B’, before the Degenerates return to their genre-bending, escapism-fuelled feedback for satirical, lyrical ‘Famous’ (“First kiss in public they’ll say it was staged / Too perfect not to be a PR move”) and ‘BIG HIT SINGLE’ – a rebellious response to Marshall Records. After Only Alive When In Motion’s ‘Girl God Gun’ became a hit single, the record label requested another tune of similar ilk. Not afraid to demonstrate their pop-sensibility, the Degenerates did just that, with spoken word sass! “If a tree falls in the forest / And no one plays it on the radio / Does it make a sound?” jests Gen. “It’s me winding up our label. Luckily, they have a good sense of humour over at Marshall.”

Taking inspiration from the obtuse, artsy sounds of post-punk-as-fuck NYC, ‘Post-Cool’ is an infectious combination of LCD Soundsystem-esque synth and Sonic Youth distortion. “Started a cult by accident / It was pretty far out / Until a crowd of 18,000 turned up to my house.” Cool is dead! Closing with a emotional tribute to Gen’s late aunt, ‘Jude’s Song’ reflects on mortality, ending with the comforting final lyric: “I don’t really know what happens when we die / But I’m glad that for a while we were alive at the same time.” For Gen and the Degenerates, Anti-Fun Propaganda is their way of making sense of the world; a darkly humorous, yet poignant commentary on the frustrating future of a space rock in disarray.

Follow Gen and the Degenerates on Spotify, X, Facebook, Instagram & TikTok

Photo Credit: Liam Maxwell7

Ken Wynne
@Ken_Wynne

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WATCH: Maria Uzor – ‘Sometimes They Look At You’

Following recent spellbinding singles such as ‘Ventolin’ and ‘Over This‘, Norwich artist Maria Uzor has now announced the release of her upcoming debut solo album, Soft Cuts, due out next month. Having wowed us with the sparkling energy of her live show numerous times, and with acclaim from radio pioneers such as Amy Lame on BBC 6Music and John Kennedy on Radio X, as well as collaborations with the likes of Rozi Plain, Chk Chk Chk and Acid Klaus, we could not be more excited about this… !

A taste of what’s to come, latest single ‘Sometimes They Look At You‘ reflects on crossed wires and clashing perspectives with a sizzling driving energy. Propelled by glitchy hooks and a swirling funk-fuelled groove, it builds with searing electronic beats as Uzor’s fierce majestic allure soars throughout. Interspersing somewhat eerie sounding samples with twinkling interludes, it showcases this innovative artist’s ability to create truly unique soundscapes; ‘Sometimes They Look At You’ offers a fusion of vast layers of sound to create an immersive, invigorating cacophony.

Of the track, Uzor explains:

“I came away from a conversation with someone and wondered why we always seemed to have crossed wires. It was like nothing each of us said ever landed with the other… I realised it was because I was talking from a place of possibilities and they were talking from a place of absolutes. Two very different languages…’Sometimes They Look At You’ is about that… about recognising that language and communication is so much more than the words that come out of your mouth.”

‘Sometimes They Look At You’ is accompanied by a captivating new video, filmed by Andi Sapey and edited by Uzor herself. Watch here:

Soft Cuts, the upcoming debut album from Maria Uzor, is set for release on 13th October via Castles In Space. And catch Maria live at a number of live dates to accompany the release, including The Windmill in Brixton on 18th October – see you there!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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NEW TRACK: NewDad – ‘Angel’

A magnetic, heady guitar tune exploring noxious behaviours in romantic relationships, Galway alt-rock four piece NewDad have shared their latest single ‘Angel’. Taken from their upcoming debut album, Madra, which is set for release on 26th January 2024 via Fair Youth/Atlantic Records, the track is inspired by the destructive relationship between characters Rue and Jules in hit TV show Euphoria.

Initially guided by the sounds of Pixies, The Cure and Slowdive, NewDad blend cinematic influences with personal epiphanies to create their bittersweet shoegaze sounds. Their debut full length record Madra – which means “dog” in Irish – is a culmination of these inspirations, centered around reflections on self-sabotage, self-medication and depression, whilst finding catharsis in being openly vulnerable about these issues.

Written in their home city of Galway, before the band relocated to London this year, Madra was produced by NewDad’s long-time collaborator Chris W Ryan (Just Mustard) and mixed by Alan Moulder (The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Wet Leg). Vocalist and guitarist Julie explains more about the themes behind the band’s upcoming record: “Madra explores various difficult parts of the human condition and the idea of the title is that these feelings that come up are sometimes ones you can’t escape – feelings that follow you around like a dog. We had an amazing team around us who helped bring these songs to life and we’re so excited for this album to be out in the world. We hope that people connect with the songs and that Madra can be a comfort to everyone who listens.”

Opening single ‘Angel’ is a culmination of these elements. Fuelled by hypnotic riffs, brooding bass lines and Julie’s distinctive, lullaby-like vocals, it’s a melodic musing on the spiralling nature of toxic romance. Listen to ‘Angel’ below.

NewDad UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2023 & 2024
1 Dec 2023 – Galway, Roisin Dubh
24 Feb 2024 – Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
25 Feb 2024 – Manchester, Band On The Wall
26 Feb 2024 – Glasgow, St Luke’s
28 Feb 2024 – Dublin, Button Factory
2 March 2024 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
3 March 2024 – Bristol, Trinity
5 March 2024 – London, Koko

Follow NewDad on bandcamp, Spotify, TikTok, Twitter (X), Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Zyanya-Lorenzo

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: ME REX – ‘Eutherians (Ultramarine)’

Their two EPs and incredible 51-track project designed for shuffle play have marked ME REX out as an incredibly exciting band to watch. Their latest single, ‘Eutherians (Ultramarine)‘ comes alongside the announcement of their forthcoming album, Giant Elk. If the rest of the project is as captivating as the single, then it’s going to be an unmissable release.

The track begins gently, with soft guitars and a light upbeat rhythm; from the first bars, the vocals ache with feeling and hint at the journey the song intends to take you on. The music swells together into a throbbing chorus that burrows into your head and stays with you long after the song ends – it’s difficult not to keep tapping along to the addictive beat.

‘Eutherians (Ultramarine)’ is about the fear of losing a part of yourself, but it has an overall sense of excitement to it. It surges into its most climactic moments, echoing the way that emotions overflow when you’re contemplating the universe and your tiny, insignificant space in it. As scary as the introspection the song contains might be, it’s beautiful as well. 

The repeated “deep, deep, deep, deep ultramarine” of the unknown – whether you’re looking up to the stars or down to the depths of the ocean – evokes that terror and fascination in equal measure. But, as the song goes on, the refrain flows with a bright, bouncy energy; like the beginning of a great adventure, getting all the more thrilling and colourful with each time it repeats.

‘Eutherians (Ultramarine)’ is a deeply reflective song. If you let it, it will take you to that introspective place that can be intensely painful or blissful, but either way rewarding and profound.

Giant Elk, the upcoming debut album from ME REX, is set for release on 2nd October, via Big Scary Monsters. Pre-order here.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

Photo Credit: Benjamin Whitley

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