How nineties are Strange Pink? They’re a young Brittany Murphy in a mall drinking Big Gulp in plaid before her role in ‘ Clueless’. They’re Kim and Thurston before the split but after the innovation. They’re a thousand college students railing against George Bush (Sr) Etc.
There’s no doubting the Yorkshire trio’s love of the era. ‘ Gone Already’ has a little energy and zest. while ‘Total Nightmare’ has a nice atmospheric sway. But there’s no excuse for the rhyming dictionary trite lyrics of ‘Seventeen’. They’re truly cringeworthy.
To be fair, it’s not at all bad. There’s pile-driving drums; vaguely Kevin Shields-esque effects pedals, and ex-Nine Black Alps lead singer Sam Forrest’s vocals come on like a less petulant, bratty Thurston Moore. But whereas MBV and Sonic Youth were trailblazers who epitomised the turmoil of the 80s/90s, this feels like a kind of indie cosplay. It’s nice, and I don’t remember feeling that grunge, no-wave or shoegazing constituted a response like this.
Inoffensive anthems then, and they’re a talented bunch of musicians. But the spirit of risk-taking and left field choices just isn’t there, and that’s what I would like to hear from them.
Out via Desert Mine on Oct 23rd.
