EP: The Ethical Debating Society – ‘Mutual Indecision’

Writing bubblegum pop melodies before tearing them apart with riot grrrl moxie, The Ethical Debating Society’s (TEDS) DIY punk attitude and multi-faceted lo-fi sound has been preserved on their latest six track extended play, Mutual Indecision; a collection of previously unreleased songs recorded at Sound Savers – Mark Jasper’s Hackney warehouse studio.

Produced by Jasper (Witching Waves), mastered by Dai Jones, and released by Radical Possibilities, the Mutual Indecision EP features vocalist/guitarist Tegan Christmas, vocalist/guitarist Kris Martin, and drummer Eli Tupa obliterating rough DIY indie with cathartic and justified rage! Opening with pop-punk anthem ‘Poor Liam‘, the three-piece examine the “alright-jack-shit generation” under the microscope; the “petri-dish for patriarchy”. “You have, and you are, a tool / That’s so fucking precious…”

‘Emoticon‘ – another whiplash-inducing headbanger – disturbs with distorted chaos, Tegan and Kris harmonising over obnoxious guitar riffs, frustrated with social change. Kicking over her drum kit and strapping on her guitar, Eli shreds lo-fi sludge on ‘Prawn Operation‘; screaming Spanish lyrical angst against male entitlement, before switching back to percussion for the punishing ‘Paywall’ – life as commodity: “Buy, buy, or bye bye.”

‘Pantomine‘ follows with equally irresistible visceral lyricism; challenging alpha male bullshit as abrasive riffs strain under the ferocity of raw instrumentation. Closing with ‘London Particular‘, the London-based trio implore you to look around: your estate regenerated and community lost… “…the fog clears and your heritage has gone. Now all the flats and all the shops ask you for money you haven’t got.”

Following their 2015 debut LP, New Sense, and in anticipation of their long-awaited sophomore record, Mutual Indecision delivers equally spontaneous scuzz, sounding as if TEDS got together in the studio, hit record on analog, and jammed unapologetically through the feedback – an imperfect punk record that is chaotically perfect.

mutual indecision e.p. by the ethical debating society

Catch The Ethical Debating Society playing live for us next month, on 19th May at Shacklewell Arms, supporting Hypsoline with Rom Coms. Tickets here!

Ken Wynne
@ken_wynne

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New Track: Cosmic Ninja – ‘Cardiac Unrest’

Living up to the vibe you might expect of a band called Cosmic Ninja, their newest track ‘Cardiac Unrest‘ is a fast-paced futuristic banger. 

Kicking off with a low but bouncy bass riff throbbing through the first few bars, it rapidly ramps up with a raucous, powerful rage, as strings and synths leap into the fray. The resulting soundscape feels like a battlefield – exciting and dangerous, rushing with righteous adrenaline. The lyrics match this energy; phrases like “step up step up, we’re not messing around, we’re gonna hold our ground” are delivered with an infectious passion. It’s difficult to listen to this song and not end up on the band’s side against the oppressive forces they’re facing off against.

Blending a sense of personal determination (“I’m doing my own thing and i don’t give a fuck what you think”) with an undefined foe that feels much wider-reaching (“we’ve got to put a stop to this somehow”), the lyrics are left open for you to project your own concerns onto, whether you’re worried about bigoted governments with too much power or a single bully persecuting you alone. Regardless, the energy is the same. The synths scream and the drums roll like thunder; inspiring all the fury and confidence required to stand up and fight back.

The track ramps up to a screaming crescendo, before rolling back into the chorus then ending abruptly on the “we aren’t fucking backing down”. There is no room for misinterpretation here: ‘Cardiac Unrest’ is a statement, a promise and a threat all in one.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

Photo Credit: Rupert Gammond

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Get In Her Ears Live @ Shacklewell Arms w/ A Void, 13.04.2023

On Thursday, we were back at Shacklewell Arms with a truly immense line-up! Huge massive thanks to headliners A Void, as well as Collars and Banshi for being amazing! Thanks too to Sofia on sound, and to everyone who came down to support the bands, dance the night away, and help us raise £100 for Rainbow Migration, who do vital work to support LGBTQI+ folk seeking asylum.

Kicking the night off, Cardiff band Banshi treat us to their swirling rock anthems, each delivered with a unique sparkling energy as front person Yasmin’s incredible vocals soar alongside catchy funk-fuelled hooks.

Next up, Cambridgeshire duo Collars offer an utterly unique live experience. As Kane simultaneously pummels the drums whilst blasting out whirring hooks on guitar, Dan exudes a captivating charisma as the soaring power of their vocals fills the venue with a fierce, dazzling energy.

Headliners A Void fill the venue with their immense, grunge-fuelled anthems. Oozing a frenzied visceral energy, they treat the bouncing crowd to 45 minutes of wonderfully raging offerings as Camille Alexander’s raw, sultry vocals blast out with a captivating allure.


Massive thanks to the three amazing bands who played for us on Thursday and to everyone who came out to support them and us! We’ll be back at Shacklewell Arms on 19th May with Brighton band Hypsoline, plus support from The Ethical Debating Society and Rom Coms – nab tickets here!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

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Five Favourites: Aisha Badru

Having previously charmed our ears with the exquisite grace of 2021 EP The Way Back Home and her debut album Pendulum, and with acclaim from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit and Afropunk, singer-songwriter Aisha Badru has now announced the release of her upcoming new EP, due out in June. Following the stirring ‘Lazy River‘, latest single ‘Path Of Least Resistance‘ flows with a lilting soulful energy as it reflects on the apprehensions of new love. Rippling with the rich, shimmering grace of Badru’s vocals, it offers a beautifully soothing heartfelt anthem; showcasing the rich, blissful majesty that we can expect from the rest of the EP.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the upcoming new EP, we caught up with Aisha to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. So, read about her five favourite songs, and make sure you listen to the beautiful ‘Path Of Least Resistance‘ below…

Sarah Jaffe – ‘Clementine’
I stumbled on Sarah Jaffe around the time in my early 20s when I was really starting to get into folk music. I love the raw and emotional honesty that she shares on her album Suburban Nature and her simplistic yet deep lyrics that hold such relatable stories of relationships, heartbreak and life. Back then when I was going through a break up, I had the album on repeat and it made me feel not so alne and hopeless; it made me feel human. This sentiment is one that I hope people find when they listen to my music. One song in particular that was a favourite is ‘Clementine’.

Yuna – ‘Decorate’ 
Yuna was a huge inspiration of mine when I first started writing my own music. I have never been a particularly strong singer or able to hold any impressive notes. My vocal delivery has always been quite simple and my singing often resembles a whisper. Yuna has a similarly soft voice to mine and she’s able to penetrate into deep places with her touching and playful lyrics. I found myself really owning and embracing my soft voice after finding her. There is something very revealing about her conservative approach to music and ‘Decorate’ perfectly displays how you can articulate such profound emotions using a few gentle words and a simple musical arrangement.

Alice Phoebe Lou – ‘Society’ 
You know that feeling when you can feel the message of a song resonating throughout your entire body and soul so much that it gives you goosebumps? That is something that I felt often when I would listen to Alice Phoebe Lou’s earlier songs. She has so many great songs, but one in particular that comes to mind that made me fall in love with her is ‘Society’. Her commentary on society within her lyrics is really moving. You’ll often hear me speaking of broader subjects in my music too. I would say that she inspired the confidence to sing about subjects other than love.

Beautiful Chorus ft. India Arie – ‘I Am’ 
Beautiful Chorus is a harmonising group of women who release spiritual songs that centre around emotional and vibrational healing. Their songs often contain repetitive mantras that have this calming effect on the nervous system while also being extremely uplifting. This song that they released with India Arie is one of my favourite songs, like ever. These women have definitely inspired me to use more soothing sounds and mantra-like lyrics in my music which can be heard in songs of mine such as ‘Rooted’ and ‘Road To Self’.

Lauryn Hill – MTV Unplugged (set)
When I think of some of my earliest music memories, I think of Lauryn Hill. What I love about Lauryn Hill is how she stayed true to who she was while existing within an industry that often tries to shape you into something that you’re not. Her whole MTV Unplugged set speaks so beautifully to that journey of staying on the path of honouring her truth. I find that to be incredibly inspiring and I too will always honour my truth and individuality.

Massive thanks to Aisha for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Listen to ‘Path Of Least Resistance’ here.

Learning To Love Again, the upcoming EP from Aisha Badru, is set for release on 2nd June.

Photo Credit: Jeff Trapani

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