Track Of The Day: Panic Shack – ‘Meal Deal’

Arriving just in time for Christmas sandwich season, the latest single from Cardiff’s Panic Shack celebrates the humble meal deal. Much like a bag of fancy crisps, ‘Meal Deal’ is two and a half minutes of pure joy. The crunchy bass and frenetic drums give off a proper punk energy, while the band’s yelping vocals make for an instant earworm. It’s both energetic and effortless, kind of reminiscent of Amyl and the Sniffers (if Amyl and the Sniffers were Welsh and harboured a love of cheap sandwiches).

‘Meal Deal’ is a stupid amount of fun, but Panic Shack don’t shy away from sharing an important message. The chorus of “Feed me, I’m fucking hungry!” and lyrics that explore the realities of working in an undervalued, underpaid job are a painful reminder of how tough life is at the moment (as if any of us could forget). It’s political, but a proper party banger too.  

Panic Shack’s passion – and their rage – is infectious. Following the successful release of their sold-out debut EP, Baby Shack, and with acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, I can’t wait to see the band spread it even further over the coming months. We need them! 

Baby Shack, the latest EP from Panic Shack, is out now – order here. Catch Panic Shack live on their upcoming headline tour, or supporting faves Yard Act later this year. Details here.

Vic Conway
@thepicsofvic

Photo Credit: Ren Faulkner

killingfantasy6583Leave a comment

Track Of The Day: BLAB – ‘Age Gracefully’

A playful guitar tune that tackles toxic modern day beauty standards, Southend-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Frances Murray aka BLAB has shared her latest single, ‘Age Gracefully’. Released via independent label Cool Thing Records, the track is a lo-fi musing on the unachievable aesthetic ideals that young women are bombarded with via their phone screens, and a gentle reminder not to buy into the bullshit.

“’Age Gracefully’ is an anti-beauty standards anthem for a generation brought up with a distorted perception of reality through social media and insidious marketing,” BLAB explains about her latest release. Following on from her 2021 EP, Word Of Mouth, BLAB continues to reaffirm her anti-establishment, anti-ego message on her new track, sound-tracked by vintage drum machines and buoyant guitar twangs.

Lyrically, BLAB takes aim at everything from Love Island, to wasting your wages on expensive and facials, to the the self-loathing that comes from being relentlessly shown the “picture perfect fantasy” of the daily routines of TV stars and strangers on social media feeds. Rather than being sucked into the despair of it all, BLAB reclaims the natural joy of ageing on her own terms in the chorus, her vocals soaring over her melodic riffs, before resolving that “all that I can be is me / and I’m only a human being” at the end of the track.

This single is the first of many releases that BLAB has planned for 2023, so keep an eye out for more tunes from the Essex-based musician.

Listen to ‘Age Gracefully’ below.

 

Follow BLAB on Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo Credit: Cameron Russell

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Maria Uzor – ‘Over This’

Following last year’s EP Innocence and Worldliness, and recent spellbinding singles ‘Solitaire‘ and ‘Winner‘, GIHE fave Maria Uzor has now announced the release of her upcoming new EP, due out next month. Having wowed us with the sparkling energy of her live show at the Shacklewell Arms this summer, and with acclaim from the likes of Amy Lame and John Kennedy, we could not be more excited about this… !

Taken from the EP, new single ‘Over This‘ ripples with woozy, seductive beats before building to a fierce, cathartic cacophony pulsating with a gritty energy. Reflecting on a time of reclaiming your identity and being honest with your emotions, the track whirrs with a glitchy splendour as Maria’s distinctive honey-sweet vocals flow. Shimmering with an immersive grace and dark, captivating power, it’ll grab your ears with its ferocious allure and keep you firmly in its hold with its deep empowering drive. Yet another offering from the Norwich-based artist that showcases her ability to create utterly unique, instantly engaging, resplendent electro-pop. Of the track, Maria explains:

“Lyrically it’s about reclaiming parts of yourself after a period of silencing yourself and your experiences to keep other people safe and unchallenged in their ignorance. It can be an isolating thing to go through, and I wanted to write as though I was speaking to myself, or anyone else who may have felt silenced due to race, sexuality, or gender identity; I needed reminding that I wasn’t alone.“

‘Over This’ is accompanied by a totally DIY video, shot by Maria in her living room; perfectly portraying the song’s theme as it plays with the idea of repetition and monotony. Watch it here:

Songs For Luminous Living, the upcoming EP from Maria Uzor, is set for release on 9th December via Hey Buffalo Records.

Mari Lane
@marmindles

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: LibraLibra – ‘Frenemies’

Following the release of their second EP, Modern Millenial, GIHE faves LibraLibra return with their utterly unique fusion of pop, electro and punk with an immense new single.

Lulling us into a false sense of security with a sweeping orchestral intro, ‘Frenemies‘ soon builds with a haunting majesty into an epic frenzied cacophony. Reflecting on the comfort we may find in fake or damaging ‘friendships’, the track fizzes with a chaotic energy that’ll blast into the ears with a fierce sense of urgency. As it rages with a colossal magnificence, front woman Beth’s vocals simmer with a sultry allure before exploding into a riotous anthem seething with dark undertones. Of the track, Beth explains:

“‘Frenemies’ is for all the fake friendships out there. Those friendships bound together through getting f**ked up, losing yourselves, your keys, your phone, blacking out and ending up a shell of your former self in a random kitchen at 4am with no way to get home. Your frenemy is your ride or die, you both should and could be each other’s saviors, but instead the chaos is calling and annihilation feels really good.“

‘Frenemies’ is accompanied by a brand new video. Directed by kink photographer Sorry Jonny Died, it offers an eerie insight into the wonderfully sordid underbelly of LibraLibra’s world.

LibraLibra are heading out on a UK tour in March 2023 (you do not want to miss them live!) – details here. And if you can’t wait that long, they’ll be supporting other GIHE faves ARXX at The Social on 23rd November – tickets here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment