GIRLS IN SYNTHESIS are by no means strangers to the pages of Joyzine with myself having the pleasure of conducting a Q & A with GIS and reviewing previous single ‘Pressure’ here. Joyzine’s Paul F Cook has also reviewed their debut album and the They’re Not Listening video.
In preparation for the eagerly anticipated follow-up to 2020’s incendiary debut, the band have released the single ‘Watch with Mother’ from the up and coming The Rest Is Distraction LP which will be available this coming October 14th via the band’s own label Own It/Cargo Records.
Recorded last year amidst the uncertainty of continuous lockdowns as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, The Rest Is Distraction is far darker in content than its predecessor. Mainly exploring internal and mental struggles as opposed to external current affairs, it focuses on the claustrophobia of emotional anguish and continues to bravely delve into previously unventured topics. Featuring frequent collaborators funkcutter and Stanley Bad on horns and violin respectively, two songs also see Eleni Poulou, ex-The Fall, on keyboards. The album was mixed by long-term collaborator Max Walker, with stunning landscape photographer by Bea Dewhurst. The album was mastered in France by Ayumu Matsuo.
Lead single from the LP ‘Watch with Mother’ (great title) has a disturbing and desperately bleak black and white video with the band crammed into an attic space whilst Linger peers on occasionally at the occupants of this nondescript suburban home in the corners of sitting rooms and bathrooms looking uncomfortable in his own skin. Very powerful visually.
The single is sonically abusive and unrelenting in its throbbing bassline, pounding drums and eardrum splitting distorted guitars, especially at the explosive ‘Watch with Mother’ chorus refrains.
This single is just superb in its claustrophobic and taut sonic punishment on the listener. Undoubtedly one of the best bands in the UK at the moment.
‘The Rest Is Distraction’ comes out on Friday 14th October 2022 via the band’s own label Own It/Cargo Records. Pre-order here
Catch the band live at the following dates:
10/09/22 – VIENNA – Pankahyttn
13/10/22 – NORTHAMPTON – Black Prince
14/10/22 – LONDON – The Lexington
15/10/22 – TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Sussex Arms
19/10/22 – BRISTOL – The Louisiana
20/10/22 – MANCHESTER – The Peer Hat
21/10/22 – NOTTINGHAM – Bodega
22/10/22 – BRIGHTON – Green Door Store
09/11/22 – GHENT – Bar Bricolage [w. Cocaine Piss]
10/11/22 – BRUSSELS – Magasin4
11/11/22 – TOURNAI – Water Moulin
12/11/22 – SIEGEN – Veb Siegen
13/11/22 – HAMBURG – Westwerk
14/11/22 – COPENHAGEN – Rahuset
15/11/22 – ODENSE – Posten
16/11/22 – BERLIN – Urban Spree
17/11/22 – FRIEBURG – Slow Club
18/11/22 – WURZBURG – Cafe Cairo
19/11/22 – NUREMBERG – Desi
20/11/22 – UTRECHT – Db’s
07/12/22 – GLASGOW – The Flying Duck
08/12/22 – NEWCASTLE – Zerox
09/12/22 – HULL – The Adelphi
10/12/22 – BIRMINGHAM – Dark Horse
Girls In Synthesis are:
John – Vocals/Bass
Jim – Vocals/Guitar
Nicole – Drums
Find out more: WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER
Review by Ioan Humphreys
Photo by Bea Dewhurst
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