Grrrl Gang - Spunky! (Green Island 
Music/Trapped Animal Records)
Release Date: Out Now
Gah, I'm well over a month late with getting this review up but when an album like 'Spunky!' comes along then you've got to share it. For the uninitiated (myself included), Grrrl Gang are an Indonesian trio who have been making a name for themselves all over the world even though this is their debut long-player so let's find out what all the fuss is about, shall we? Album opener 'Birthday Blues' sets the scene with a driving bass and drums combo before the bubblegum-pop-garage guitars come crashing in and the vocals fight to make themselves heard over the punky noise. 'A Fight Breaks Out A Karaoke Bar' channels the West Coast sound with chugging guitars and a Joan Jett spirit while 'Rude Awakening' sounds like Iggy Pop's kids waking up on a sunny day and heading out for adventure.
Title track 'Spunky!' has a throbbing, squalling rawness to it with megaphone vocals calling you in to battle before 'Cool Girl' laments being an outsider but has a lot of fun doing it judging by the distorted guitars and high energy delivery. This album rattles by at quite a pace with only one song exceeding the three minute mark but each song is delivered with breathless intensity which is, frankly, intoxicating and exhilarating. 'Better Than Life' is the perfect example of Grrrl Gang's approach as it is 89 seconds of deadpan grunge-pop with energy, spirit and a lot of shouting which is, let's face it, a lot better than life most of the time.
'Mother's Prayers' is the first change in tempo as we get a woozy slice of dream-pop which makes me feel a little drunk if I'm honest but 'Blue-Stained Lips' picks the pace up again with elements of Lush and Siouxsie Sioux coming through as well as a hint of the Bangles in the chorus which is never a band thing. Closing track, the relatively lengthy 'The Star' comes in at over four minutes and is a little more dreamy and sprawling in comparison to the other tracks. So the three piece have graduated college, moved to Jakarta and released their first album - whatever happens next is going to be fun, you can count on that so hang around a while, you might just enjoy yourself.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/grrrlgangband
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