“Let’s settle for doing one thing well,” said the band, followed by nods of agreement. Across town, Joanna Gruesome made their own minds up: “Let’s do a bunch of things, mash them together, laugh about it and keep every song around the two minute mark.”
Much like its predecessor, the Welsh Music Prize-winning ‘Weird Sister’, ‘Peanut Butter’ finds Joanna Gruesome bouncing their squalls of guitar noise off nuanced, often impeccable, melodies. But, by shaving just under 10 minutes off the running time, album two represents a refinement of that template. The sheer number of memorable hooks packed into its 22 minutes is remarkable.
Alanna McArdle and Owen Williams operate in tandem, dispensing surrealist couplets alongside wistful reminisces, bare-bones sentiment and sharp social commentary.
His mumbled low notes lurk in the background as McArdle’s dynamic shifts between hardcore fury and harmonious falsetto provide the record’s tuneful backbone.
As split releases with Trust Fund and Perfect Pussy suggested - Jerome (Liar) and Psykick Espionage pop up here as they did on those EPs - Joanna Gruesome are changing.
But, rather than heading into the wide, bloated yonder so popular on second albums, they have devoted themselves entirely to getting to the point. It’s not too much of an exaggeration to suggest that each song here contains the melodic nous to wipe the floor with whole albums, yet only one of them tops the three minute mark.
Supporting McArdle’s vocal hooks are intelligent guitar counterpoints, notably Honestly Do Yr Worst’s chord progression or I Don’t Wanna Relax’s leads, which culminate in perhaps the great (only?) ironic solo in punk’s storied history.
The balancing act is overseen by MJ of Hookworms, who also produced ‘Weird Sister’. There is a joyful air of organised chaos, which allows for a constant stream of little surprises. Jamie (Luvver), by way of example, tumbles from a thunderous drum break into Teenage Fanclub jangle at its conclusion, just when you thought the fun was over.
You will not find a better way to spend 22 minutes. Bet you.
Joanna Gruesome Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri September 18 2015 - MANCHESTER Islington Mill
Tue September 22 2015 - LONDON Scala
Thu September 24 2015 - GLASGOW Glad Cafe
Tue September 29 2015 - BRIGHTON Haunt
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