EP Review: Froggy & The Ringes – Soft ‘G’ EP

Straight out of the lilypads comes this new EP from Froggy & The Ringes (pronounced with a soft ‘G’, as the title states).

What do you mean you’ve never heard of them?

The quintet’s “singles and albums are highly sought after by collectors,” and pre-lockdown their live shows were “producing record breaking crowds.”

Oh come on, everyone’s got a favourite – be it Froggy himself, or Ranchard Ringe and his rumbling bass work. Perhaps you’re more a fan of the way Claudio Winkelf-Ringe slashes at chords, or Sir Ringe-o-Lot stabs at the keys? Ah, it’s the inexhaustible percussive pulse that Ringe-o-Starr lays down then?

For those only just discovering the blare from the bulrushes, ‘Soft ‘G’’ is an enlightening introduction. “Eins, zwei, drei, vier!” – opening track ‘Froggy & The Ringes Theme’ sets out the band’s mantra both musically and lyrically: “Three chords good, two chords better, one chord best,” declares Froggy, as The Ringes zip along on the aforementioned one chord. It’s rightly raw and rowdy. ‘Auction This!’ comes across even spikier.  Aggression – “Where do you get your trousers from?” – and a primal sense of melody are served up in equal measure.

Kicking off Side B is ‘Don’t Listen’ – a lost garage gem from the late 70s? Froggy’s deadpan delivery is part cautionary, part soothing above the half-stepped chord progression and proto-punk beat. Groovy. Bear in mind: “That sandwich doesn’t listen.” The punchy ‘(We Are) Cheap Beer’ closes the EP out at full tilt – all thrashing chords and cymbals. “We are not from Belgium,” they remind us, as way of confirming their lo-fi credentials.

Oh, and it’s out today; hop to it.

Like your punk basic, brash, blistering and barmy? ‘Soft ‘G’’ is available digitally and on vinyl through Kibou Records and Toxic Wosit Records. Froggy & The Ringes have a Facebook page to follow.