ALBUM OF THE WEEK: My Life as a Beast and Lowly Form
Human Hair are new kids on the block, but their debut LP My Life As A Beast & Lowly Form is a spectacular ode to punk put together with their own signature.
Album Reviews | Released
Human Hair – My Life As A Beast & Lowly Form
(The state51 Conspiracy)
4 out of 5
Intelligent, punky, darkly humorous, dance-worthy and clever lyrics – Human Hair is a band made up from already established acts including Claw Marks, Lovvers & Dignan Porch, but you can forget about established genres because this London based band, since their beginnings in 2012, are putting their own unique spin and sense of humour onto punk as we know it. A new line up and a tighter gigs schedule during 2013 has pushed the group into producing their debut album My Life As A Beast & Lowly Form.
The album has an impressive line up of 10 raucous tracks, mostly in the same vein and very distinctive style of Human Hair – not an easy feat in an increasingly generic market place. These guys aren’t interested in the status-quo here – they want to rock the boat and take you deeper in.
The songs offer fuzzed out guitars, crackling lo-fi production, menacing pedals effects, and incinerating vocals coupled with sharp, witty lyrics from front man Jack Lenton who inserts his sense of humour and witty repartee into every line.
At times Nirvana like and grungy, at others almost Sabbath like and throughout an inherent sense of punk ensues, the band have produced a strong and standout album here. Lenton, who is one of the only original members of the outfit, holds essences of Pixies lead singer Black Francis, a huge compliment. Album opener Party Size is a disillusioned anti-love song (Of which there are quite a few of in the LP), which holds the tongue in cheek hook “How big are you she said – party sized, party sized”. Book Club is a Nirvana-esque, grungy, fuzzed electro number, Nail Biter has menacing guitars and a full and fast paced drums intro- the lyrics open, “It’s taking more of me to excite her” and carry on “she’s not the day, she is the night – nail biter”.
After five frantic and disaffected songs, song six, Sleeping, comes as a surprise and welcome contrast.Soft and gentle by comparison to the other songs here, ethereal in the intro and mellow percussion until distortion grows and the track evolves into a darker and gradually blacker sound which creeps up on you.
Happy Birthday is similar here – cryptic and leaving the listener guessing what is going on, lead track Hungers is the most accessible track lifted from the record and has already been awarded it’s own video.
Lastly Manor Of Curses has the line, “The house is full, swallow you one and all”, a fitting end lyric to an album about the times we live in, lust love and our primitive ‘hungers’. A great album and an excellent introduction to the bands very unique signature.
Eva Earwaker
