White Lung + Night Owls

Resilient and hard hitting rock ‘n’ roll outfit White Lung release their third album, Deep Fantasy, via Domino this summer. The band is every bit as confrontational as before, but they’ve managed to open their sound up just enough to draw listeners in before kicking them in the face (in a good way).

After a year plus of near constant touring behind Sorry – which won raves from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and Interview – White Lung slimmed to a trio in the studio: vocalist Mish Way, drummer Anne-Marie Vassiliou and guitarist Kenneth William. Deep Fantasy was made primarily in Vancouver with producer Jesse Gander (who did both Sorry and their 2010 debut It’s The Evil) in just two ten-day-long sessions at the end of last year and the start of this one. William handled bass duties on Fantasy while Wax Idols’ Hether Fortune will take up bass and backing vocal duties on tour for the foreseeable future.

Way is more provocative and melodic than ever on Fantasy, lyrically surveying addiction (Drown With the Monster), body dysmorphia (Snake Jaw) and sexual dynamics (Down It Goes), among other dinner table topics. Kenneth, a devotee of Johnny Marr, ‘plays with the speed of an 80s hardcore dude’ whirled in Vassiliou’s relentless and seemingly effortless approach to drumming.

‘Deep Fantasy is definitely savvy, ensuring its staunch ideals are delivered by a riveting, relatable frontwoman and 22 minutes of vicious, compact musicianship and addictive melody. It’s an uncompromising feminist punk record that can be grasped by anyone who finds themselves compelled by kickass rock music and basic human decency’ – Pitchfork

Support comes from Night Owls. The quartet have played Tramlines and Dot to Dot festivals this summer.

Price: £8 adv
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