EP Review: Futhermuckers – Self Titled

The name Futhermuckers suggests a collection of ageing punks doing what makes them happy, maybe a covers band, or a group treading the same path as as the likes of Hung Like Hanratty or Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions, maybe they’re carrying on in the tradition of confrontationally named punk bands such as The Kunts, The Fuck Ups and The Dicks, or maybe they’re just named after the cocktail, given that the Futhermuckers formed in a bar in Benidorm I would put my money on the latter. But what’s in a name? Not a lot if you go by the contents of the Futhermuckers debut EP, although the first of the assumption is correct, these are people of a certain age doing what makes them happy, this is the Futhermuckers setting out their stall and giving you a taste of what’s to come on their debut album that will be released later this year.

‘Old But Still Handsome‘ launches with a brutal bassline and heads straight into a hit of street punk that address the pitfalls of getting older but not letting it hold you back, the first taste of the Futhermuckers does have the feel of eighties punk rock, which given the song title shouldn’t come as a surprise. ‘Mandy‘ brings a more brutal approach that has a distinct UK82 feel, there is also a feeling that the song is a reference to MDMA rather than being a love song in a Barry Manilow kinda way. Just as you think you’ve got a handle on where this EP comes from you get ‘Men On Pause‘, that possesses a dirty glam rock stomp and returns to the theme of things changing as we get older. The final track ‘Hey You‘ revisits their social side with themes of dancing, drinking and desperately trying to attract someone of the opposite sex.

The first four tracks from the Futhermuckers indicates that they are very much a product of their environment, as the songs are evenly split between the issues of ageing and partying. The Futhermuckers debut EP has a distinctly raw DIY feel, whilst there isn’t anything on here that you haven’t heard before, there is an unashamedly vintage punk rock feel running through the EP, but it does possess an energetic and upfront feel that keeps you hooked into the Futhermuckers. Their debut EP is also an indicator that there is a side to Benidorm that isn’t covered by the numerous tv shows and reality shows that the family friendly tourist resort has generated, something that gives us hope that we can kill two birds with one stone when live shows and holidays become a possibility again.

The Futhermuckers debut EP can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp here