Album of the Month [August]
(5 / 5)
In these stressful cost of living crisis-induced times, if you seek a soothing, calming soundtrack to your wellness regime of meditation and slumber, look away now. Stop. Do not read any further. This new album is not for you. There is nothing to see/or hear, here…Move on.
If, however, you want your heart to beat a tad faster and your adrenaline pumping, then this little cracker is deffo for you…
Millie Manders and The Shutup are a band you really must see live. Once seen, never forgotten. That pleasure soon come when they tour the UK for 13 dates in October and November this year – [All dates below].
Their reputation proceeds them on the live circuit, and be prepared for a “ferocious and joyous” gig; just pick a night, grab tickets before they inevitably sell out and get your backside to the venue. They will do the rest.
The London-based four-piece unit from Norwich have the chemistry of a band who have been together for decades, and who have put out a slew of albums and other releases.
But they formed just nine years ago and are about to birth only their second album, “Wake Up, Shut Up, Work”, after the widespread acclaim of their 2020 debut LP, “Telling Truths, Breaking Ties”.
The dozen new tracks on that “difficult second album” are kind of like the second disc in a two-album set; as regards the feel and vibe of the new songs.
Pretty much more of the same as the debut set, that is in quality-terms, but perhaps with even more bite and aggression as regards the topics and the message. And much more to say too about the state of the country/world but never coming across as preachy.
It is punky, it is rocky, it is loud and it is bloody good. Millie is a vocalist and band leader who demands and commands your attention live and on record, from the off.
The material delves into themes of loss, betrayal, anxiety, heartbreak, environmental concerns and political unrest, all while exuding the innate punk attitude they excel in.
She may growl and snarl and belt it out like a good old fashioned punk, but bet your sweet bippy Ms Manders can really saaaang. And this band can really play. This band…. are Millie Manders on vocals, guitar and alto sax’, Joe Quigley on guitar, George Boreham on bass and Pete Wright on drums and samples.
Talking about the new album, Millie says: “Our sophomore album has been so much more collaborative as a band, and it’s been a really wonderful process in terms of expansion and evolution of our sound while maintaining a lot of what we have already put out on ‘Telling Truths, Breaking Ties’.
“It’s also been a great opportunity to bond as musicians, writing in rooms together in blocks over the last year or so. We are all so proud of what we have achieved, and we all hope that ‘Wake Up, Shut Up, Work’ has a similarly warm reception when it’s released into the world.”
To write the album, Millie and the boys decamped to an Air b&b in Norfolk, where they shut themselves off from the world. “We weren’t allowed our phones between 9am and 4pm,” Millie remembers. “We didn’t allow ourselves to contact our significant others until after we’d finished work every day.”
A staunch vegan and advocate for trans rights and women’s rights, the singer saw an opportunity to address the ongoing issue of gender inequality across all aspects of the music industry.
She made it her mission to hire as many women as possible across the project: Claire Sutton, the lead singer and guitarist of pop-rock band, All Ears Avow, took on production, mixing and mastering duties.
“I have got women playing sax and trumpet and violin and cello,” says Millie. “Our next tour is going to have a woman photographer and sound engineer. In alternative music there isn’t enough space for non-cis male people. I want to give opportunity to women, trans women and people that aren’t cis male in a part of the industry that is very male dominated.”
The album opens with the excellent “Angry Side”, before the machine-gun delivery of the vocal on “Shut Your Mouth” [which reminded me a wee bit of the fabulous Baby Queen], before the serious topic of “Me Too”, and the injustice often shown to sexual assault victims in court and/or how they are questioned by the police. Powerful stuff. Superb vocal.
“Fun Sponge” will become a live favourite methinks, for the pogo/mosh pit brigade. I liked “R.I.P.” a lot, “Halloween” is the first slower, mid-tempo track for some nice light and shade between the in-yer-face punky, thrashy stuff. The soaring soprano vocalising from Millie is impressive. That is some vocal range.
“Rebound” is Millie’s contract to herself not to ever again be someone’s rebound love interest; an ear-worm and addictive hook and a decent commercial track for radio perhaps.
I loved “Threadbare” and the spoken-word aspect. About being skint; like really broke and very relevant to today’s epidemic and scandal of millions of people/families using food banks and not being able to afford to heat their home. “Can I Get Off?” sits on a pumping bass riff, and is one of the strongest tracks on the LP. The set closes with “Pressure”….
- Our well deserved album of the month for August.
Words: Steve Best
(1 / 5) ‘Dull Zone’
(2 / 5) ‘OK Zone’
(3 / 5) ‘Decent Zone’
(4 / 5) ‘Super Zone’ (5 / 5) ‘Awesome Zone’
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