The Signal Light. Justine and The Unclean

"Justine and The Unclean release long-awaited album, THE SIGNAL LIGHT, with title-track single, today on Red on Red Records!", the promo read announcing the 2 June release of the album. One week later singer Justine Couvault died, so it is with a heavy heart that I'm starting this review. I already wrote some words of appreciation on Justine and her work to get so much great music out into the world, so I will not repeat that here. Let me focus on the music instead.

It is also with a lot of pleasure and enthusiasm that I can write on The Signal Light. The album is good folks. Most likely even better than just good. Time will tell, but the start is truly of headshakin' nature. Justine and The Unclean is rocking on the album and not just a little. The songs are huge in sound and depth.

This depth starts with the drums of Jim Janota. I focus on 'Picking A Fight'. One of the greatest punkrockers released this decade so far. Janota is banging away on his skins and driving the song in a hard, relentless way. This is power drumming alright. The band can only follow and does, thus creating a great, huge song. The guitar duo Couvault - Hansen lay down great and thick rhythm playing, while underneath Janet Egan King makes the song even deeper with her dark bass playing. The result is, I wrote that already, a great song.

Photo: Duncan Wilder Johnson

Justine and The Unclean came into my life six years ago with a great single 'This System Is Set To Self Destruct'. An album followed and some singles, but in general it remained silent for a long time. A lot of things probably got in the way, including starting a record label. What is totally clear, is that the wait was very much worthwhile. The Signal Light delivers the goods. What are the chances of an album as good as this being picked up by the right people, even as a salute to a middle aged band that, must likely from a family and work situation, is able to create an inspired and inspiring album like this? It is my conviction that there ought to be a huge audience for The Signal Light.

Justine and The Unclean shows a few different sides to its musical self. It's not all punk rock turning the clock around. You will find some nice rock ballads and even a country-tinged song. With one common denominator: all the songs have something special to them. The four musicians are true artists on their instruments and able to come up with interesting lead lines on bass and guitar. Egan King and Hansen show their chops regularly. Couvault was not the best singer, yet a great songwriter and her voice fits the punkrocking attitude with which all the songs are brought. The mix is exactly right.

RIP Justine. Photo: Richard Cramer

Most likely The Signal Light is the swansong of Justine and The Unclean. I would have loved to have heard more in the future, but things being as they are, with this album the band gives the world an, albeit unforeseen, great farewell salute. This signal light is shining so bright.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order The Signal Light here:

https://justinentheunclean.bandcamp.com/album/the-signal-light