Sunlit Uplands EP. Nothingheads

U.K. punkers Nothingheads have come by in the weekly single section twice already. Here's the band's debut EP. Five songs in a "full speed ahead, Mr. Sulu" style. Punk like they used to play it. No frills, let's go hey ho, in a U.K. style punk. A little more on songs with melodies in combination with energy that includes a little weirdness. Less the relentless style of The Ramones, that when all was said and done was playing 60s hits on double steroids. Nothingheads wants a little more in its music, from a musical perspective. You can hear that in the little lead notes that come by, just like in the slightly more complex interludes.

Where Dutch band Tramhaus is in search for some, in a relative way, subtlety, Nothingheads goes at it, without stopping. Like Tramhaus (and many other postpunkers) Nothingheads makes its music more challenging that just calling out 1, 2, 3, 4 and go at it for at most two minutes. The rhythms are more difficult, there's a lot of awkward notes, the not most-easy vocal melodies, it's all there. At the same time it all works with an ease that comes with these modern bands.

It makes Nothingheads fit in with the circa 2020 post punk generation in a good way, while adding its own. That own starts with having a real punk singer in Rob Fairey, also the guitarist. He sings like a young Johnny Rotten and gets away with it. The me-against-the-world-sneer is there in a convincing way and gives the band a unique touch. More punk than post punk in the singing.

In Matt Holt and Ed Simpson the band has a bass player and a second guitarist. Who is on the mighty drums, is not mentioned, unless like with Cottbus rockers Para Lia it is a drum machine taking care of the rhythm duties.

The 7 minute epos 'Repeat Under The Lens' is a huge alternative rocker and post punk song. The intro is all over the place and lasts for so many minutes that I thought to be listening to punk version of a post rock song. Fairey's voice does come in for a while, until the band goes at it instrumentally once again for the long outro. Hearing is believing here. Not for the faint of ears 'Repeat Under The Lens' is.

Nothingheads managed to record a five song EP without compromise. The band shows what it is capable of in its short existence and rocks like there is no tomorrow. There may not be one, for all we know. This is a band that deserves to be heard. A joint bill with Tramhaus might be a good idea actually.

'Rat' starts to play once again. It almost makes me believe Nothingheads could score a hit, in an alternative universe where music from all sorts of artists are able to become hits. It has all the qualities of one, just like 'No More Heroes' and 'Denis' charted next to 'Mull Of Kintyre', 'Het Smurfenlied', and 'We Are The Champions'. 'Rat' the song's called, DJs.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Sunlit Uplands here:

https://nothingheads.bandcamp.com/album/sunlit-uplands