ALBUM: Pet Crow – ‘Take The Edge Off’

Smashing through insecurities and personal ailments in refreshing garage-pop style; Derby-based band Pet Crow have returned with their second album, Take The Edge Off. Self-released in the UK on 7th Feb, it’s an apt title for a collection of songs that provide momentary relief from the everyday stresses of being an adult.

Formed of Danielle Ross, Dan Barradell, Sean Kenny, Conor Wallis, and Sophie Prosay; Pet Crow are facing up to their demons on their sophomore record. Speaking from direct experience; the band explore anxiety, depression, drug addiction, recovery, OCD, and ADHD across the ten tracks on Take The Edge Off.

The first three songs – ‘Limbo’, ‘Insomnia’ and ‘NOCD’ – fly by in a blur of fuzzy guitars, punky percussion, and moody vocals. They’re restless, cathartic laments about not being able to switch off, or switch back on when you most need to. The band channel not having a clear direction in life into well directed sounds on ‘What We Doin’, whilst the riotous ‘One Whole Summer’ is a strung out two and a half minutes about cutting loose, and the repercussions of going wild a little too often.

‘Controlling’ explores a toxic relationship, but the buoyant, surf-rock guitars distract from the darker context of the song. The same can be said for eponymous track ‘Take The Edge Off’, which does exactly that for just shy of two minutes. The band are “flitting between caring, and care free” on ‘Hostage’, and the manic instrumental mid-way through penultimate track ‘Scars’ is equally as freeing.

The joyfully named ‘Prick’ closes the record. It’s an infectious four minute take down of another toxic relationship, and the repeated line “You make me sick” will draw a wry smile across your face as you sing along to the catchy guitar riffs. Pet Crow firmly believe you can dance and sing your way through your problems, and Take The Edge Off will help you to do just the same.

Pre-order your copy of Pet Crow’s Take The Edge Off via Bandcamp
Follow Pet Crow on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Pom Pom Squad – ‘Cellophane’ (FKA Twigs cover)

A stirring, grunge-inspired take on one of 2019’s most popular tracks, Brooklyn indie-punks Pom Pom Squad have shared their cover of FKA Twigs’ single ‘Cellophane’.

The band have treated Twigs’ material graciously, and frontwoman Mia Berrin’s vocals are as poignant as those on the original recording. Berrin explains more about the cover: “I know I’m not alone in saying that ‘Cellophane’ was one of my absolute favourite songs of last year. I’ve been a fan of twigs since I was in high school and heard ‘Hide’ off of EP1. She was one of the first artists that made me seen as a woman of colour occupying an alternative space, and I could immediately hear myself in the sweeping ebbs and flows of this song.”

Pom Pom Squad shared their sophomore EP, Ow, last year, with their track ‘Heavy Heavy’ making Thrillist’s ‘best songs of 2019’ list. The diversity of their “Quiet Grrrl” sound means they’re able to create their own raucous sounds, but they’re also able to cover delicate tracks like ‘Cellophane’ too. Listen to their cover of ‘Cellophane’ below, and follow the band on Instagram for more updates.

Photo Credit: Michelle Lobianco

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: The Kut – ‘X Ray Eyes’

Following the release of her debut album Valley Of Thorns last year, which landed in the Top 10 of the UK Rock Albums Chart, Princess Maha – aka The Kut – has now shared a powerful new single.

Propelled by eerie hooks and the soaring impassioned power of Princess Maha’s gravelly vocals, ‘X Ray Eyes’ at first seems a little more mellow than previous riotous offerings such as ‘Bad Man’. However, it soon builds to a frenzied grunge-fuelled anthem, retaining all the grit and raw emotion that we’ve come to know and love from The Kut.

Eerie hooks, soaring impassioned power of gravelly vocals… More reflective that riotous offerings such as bad man… but retains the grit and raw emotion that we’ve come to know and love.

Featuring The Kut fans who meet their demise at the hands of a determined vampire slayer, the new video ‘X Ray Eyes’ is out now:

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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EP: Vulpynes – ‘Dye Me Red’

With four unforgiving, relentlessly scuzzy songs, Irish grunge duo Vulpynes release their second EP Dye Me Red.

Kicking off the stormy ride with a riveting riff dripping in fuzz, Molly and Kas launch their EP’s roller-coaster ride with ‘I Can’t Sit Still’: immediately introducing listeners to a perfect taste of what’s to come. Tastefully driven angst spoken through guitar tones meets hard hitting vocal melodies that marry in a chaotic yet sparse way. No matter the moment, Dye Me Red hosts a harmony between noise and sparseness throughout, allowing each instrument their room to thrive and dance within their own vein. With such tight instrumentals in correspondence to rebellious, catchy melodies, Vulpynes draw wisps of early Foo Fighters or The Distillers with a chanting tone throughout the whole of this EP. 

It is hard not to feel Riot Grrrl energy with the powerful vocal doubles coating Dye Me Red. At just the right times, listeners feel like they’re invited to the party with the EP’s punchy communal vocal layers. ‘Bitches Are Like Waves’, the follow up track to ‘I Can’t Sit Still’, serves a protest-like disposition. As much as this song emotes lyrically, it also draws severe attention with its instrumentals. With delicate percussion sounds in a punk setting and classic guitar character, Vulpynes do an incredible job of showcasing the dance-ability of electric guitar. It is indeed hard to sit still throughout the journey of this EP’s sounds, there is truly an undeniable movement to it. 

In more ways than one, Vulpynes embody their lyrics – “won’t settle down, gotta settle up” -throughout their music that doesn’t wait for anyone. ‘The Hunt’, the EP’s finale, is a noisy, ghostly outro that haunts the EP with its feet sturdy in the ground. With elements reminiscent of Kim Gordon, Molly and Kas leave us with a hushy universal sentence: “I am not your prey.” Through their bold lyrics, sharp instrumentals and unique chemistry, Vulpynes create a space for everyone to celebrate themselves as emotional human beings. Dye Me Red is an empowering, charging EP for anyone seeking a release. 

 

Jillian Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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