You might think that an album revolving around themes such as misogyny, gender inequality and sexual assault would be something of a sombre affair, and even more so when told with a sensitive lyricism. Yet, it’s typical of The Baby Seals’ two-pronged approach, wrapping taboo topics in delicious melodies, that their debut album Chaos becomes a delectable assortment of nine prime cuts that never fails to raise a smile.
Some music immediately grabs you by the private parts and gives a good tug, and that’s certainly the case with opening shot ‘Yawn Pawn’. Both musically and lyrically arresting, this cut ululates like an electrocuted snake and is suitably spiky and angular. Playing with an energy only previously heard on first wave punk, this is raucous and rebel-rousing and is the musical equivalent of being awakened from a deep slumber via a cold splash of water. In fact, Chaos isn’t recommended for somnambulists and The Baby Seals proceed to dance around your cranium like three pesky imps, and like many three-piece bands, they sound far bigger than their constituent parts. It’s a combination which suits this brand of punk very well; each instrument comes to the fore and gets confrontationally in your face, which exactly how The Baby Seals should be experienced.
There’s a big gap waiting to be filled in the current music scene; a yawning chasm just longing for an inventive rock band to fill the void, and The Baby Seals could be that group. Aside from the general earwormy nature of songs such as ‘ID’d At Aldi’, there’s a lot to like here from the harmonies that’d have The Beach Boys green with envy, whilst the buzzsaw guitars on ‘Vibrator’ are the stuff of the Ramones’ (wet) dreams. Yet, The Baby Seals aren’t content to stay in one place for long and the title-track breaks out of the typical three-minute bash to deliver a song of several suites that’s almost progressive in structure as it swirls and twirls, and in dizzying fashion. Psychedelic punk? You heard it here first!
Perfectly encapsulating the band’s modus operandi, ‘Mild Misogynist’ wraps a serious message in an insanely catchy song; it’s punk rock from the garage but with heavy guitars and a pop sensibility. It means you can enjoy their songs on two levels; pogo around your living room by all means, but take a while to explore the lyrical content, you’ll be glad you did. It’s this duality which means that it feels like the band are never preaching, but those strong messages are there if you want them (and why wouldn’t you?). I hope I haven’t made Chaos sound overtly serious because there’s a lot of fun jumping from these grooves, yet this record often walks a fine line beneath the two and the band know when to get down to business, such as on pugnacious closer ‘It’s Not About The Money Honey’, a song that’s drenched in feedback to ensure the band won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
- Chaos is released via Trapped Animal on 19th April 2024.
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Track List:
- Yawn Pawn
- ID’d At Aldi
- Vibrator
- Chaos
- Invisible Woman
- My Labia Is Lopsided But I Don’t Mind
- Mild Misogynist
- Nipple Hair
- It’s Not About The Money Honey
