Berries - How We Function (Xtra Mile 
Recordings)
Release Date: 8th July 2022
Regular readers of LWM will know how much I have been banging on about London trio Berries for the past (checks notes) SIX YEARS! So, this, their debut album, has not come a moment too soon and it is everything I could have hoped for and more. 'How We Function' opens with the instatntly loveable 'We Are Machines' which immediately introduces the band to listeners as the intense, tight and powerful three piece I've come to know and love. 'Spiral' shows off their 90s-00s indie-grunge credentials with a churning riff and punchy drums building to a chorus that is tailor made for igniting the mosh pit. The angular bass and guitar dual of 'Basic Tables' appeals to the Math Rock geek in me with elements of early Biffy Clyro blending with Young Knives to create a song that keeps you guessing right until the end.
There is something brilliantly familiar about 'The Expert' as the guitars bob and weave in between the pounding drums before giving way to 'Discreetly' which starts like Springsteen before transforming in to something more grunge inspired. Recent single 'Haze' is a more subdued and chilled track during the verse before the repated line of "how has it lasted so long?" builds the tension in to an explosive chorus. 'Wall of Noise' is a punky and intense bastard child of the Stooges and the Pixies while 'Siren' (a single seemingly released an age ago) swirls and turns with ominous energy that really shows off the band's rock credentials.
For any band this would be an impressive collection but for a trio to put this kind of record together for their debut shows just why Xtra Mile were so keen to add them to their already impressive stable and why they've been invited out on tour with the likes of Frank Turner, Jim Bob and the Subways. 'Grow' is about as close as this album gets to a ballad but it still has that trade mark unbalanced rhythm and unpredictable melodic structure. 'Strength In Numbers' picks up the pace and reminds me of bands like Hundred Reasons and Reuben in its playful but intense energy. The riff on 'Copy' twists like a cork screw in to your subconcious before the rest of the band join in to force the point home on this penultimate track. The album comes to triumphant close on 'Your Mind' which brings together all the power, angularity and itchy energy of the previous tracks to sign off with a flourish. As you can see from the list below, Berries are going to be touring this album hard for the rest of the year so get out and see them (unless you live west of Bristol of course in which case you'll have to wait patiently with me....hint hint).
More information: https://www.facebook.com/BerriesBand
Live Dates:
7th-9th July - 2000 Trees Festival
11th July - The Garage, London w/Slothrust
13th July - Acoustic show @ Flashback Records, London
28th-31st July - Kendal Calling Festival
17th September - Columbia Theatre, Berlin w/Frank Turner
19th October - Bodega, Nottingham
20th October - Mr Wolf's, Bristol
21st October - The Adelphi, Hull
22nd October - Santiago Bar, Leeds
25th October - Gullivers, Manchester
26th October - Oslo, London
9th November - Cluny, Newcastle w/Jim Bob
10th November - Drygate, Glasgow w/Jim Bob
11th November - Leadmill, Sheffield w/Jim Bob
12th November - Gorilla, Manchester w/Jim Bob
23rd November - O2 Academy 2, Oxford w/Jim Bob
24th November - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham w/Jim Bob
25th November - Old Fire Station, Bournemouth w/Jim Bob
26th November - Islington Assembly Hall, London w/Jim Bob
1st December - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth w/Skinny Lister
2nd December - The Forum, Tunbridge Wells w/Skinny Lister
3rd December - O2 Academy 2, Oxford w/Skinny Lister
8th December - Gorilla, Manchester w/Skinny Lister
10th December - Thekla, Bristol w/Skinny Lister
14th December - The Y Theatre, Leicester w/Skinny Lister
15th December - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton w/Skinny Lister
16th December - Stylus, Leeds w/Skinny Lister
17th December - Islington Assembly Hall, London w/Skinny Lister