EP Review: Knife Club – Lockdown Acoustic EP

At this point, Knife Club have still not played any gigs. Hampered by the on-going COVID pandemic and resulting restrictions, the band have used the time since their debut release back in May to pull together this EP, despite the members living hundreds of miles apart. It’s a staggering achievement (mentions for Ben Hannah of Organworks), but also symptomatic of these strange times – live streams, socially distant recording sessions and home-made music videos have become the ‘norm’ in artists’ evolutions. This all comes off the back of Ripcord Records asking Knife Club to contribute a track to an acoustic punk compilation ‘Lockdown Unplugged’. All proceeds go to the mental health charity Support In Mind. Available through TNS Records, who are nearing their 100^th release, this  EP features reworkings of a couple of album tracks, as well as 3 original songs. Just as back in March, the band have managed to time this to (im)perfection, as we enter another National Lockdown..

What strikes first about the acoustic filter the band come through on this record is a sense of ‘warmth’.  ‘Stay Safe. Don’t Die’ allures and envelops like a warm hug. It’s marvellously measured, and allows each component to come through clearly, including an appearance from Tessa Hunt (Stand Out Riot) on violin. “Can’t go out, can’t stay in..Where the fuck do we fit in?”  enquire Davies and Barrow in perfect harmony with millions of others. Inspired by, and reacting to these strange, uncertain times, the lyrics come more out of concern and disenchantment, whereas vitriol is more evident on ‘Bozo Is An Underused Insult’ (You may want to purchase the ‘infamous’ t-shirt HERE). Sharp and satirical, there’s no doubting the target.

The two previous singles ‘Remember The Gold Dollar Sign Hoodie?’ and ‘The Tibby Tan Tiger’ (catchiest tune of the year still?) get a makeover; not quite stripping back the originals, but developing the instrumentation in emergent ways – whets the appetite for what the band might sound like going forward. Closing out the EP is another new track, ‘You Can Only Try Your Best’ –  “Life is rarely comfortable..”  we’re consoled, against a thumping rhythm juxtaposed with lush strings. It’s kind of a neat counterpoint to finish on – a note of unity; a reminder that there’s plenty of members in this particular club.

Like relevant, savvy and inclusive acoustic-punk? ‘Lockdown Acoustic EP’ is available through TNSRecords on vinyl or digitally. Knife Club have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to follow.