Joanna Gruesome #2 - Do You Really Wanna Know...

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It's been a while since we've had new Joanna Gruesome material to listen to but that wait is finally over with news of their signing to Fortuna Pop and a new track, the impressively titled Do You Really Wanna Know Why Yr Still in Love with Me". Their signing is a perfect fit with Joanna Gruesomes co-vocalists Lan's former band Evans The Death (least I think it's former now) and the wonderful Shrag already on the London label, put those two acts into the mixing pot with a healthy dash of 90's scuzz pop and you might just make this new track...

"Do You Really Wanna Know..." starts with super sweet tandem vocals, chiming guitar hooks and thunderbolt drumming which combine to an irresistible fuzzed-up melody which builds with fast-tempo and to a crashing crescendo of super-charged, sloppy as fuck dissonance. Intoxicating and more-ish, the single is hopefully a great sign of things to come in 2013.

The band play on the Fortuna Pop Winter Sprinter in early January at the Lexington. Four great nights of music with Tender Trap, Allo' Darlin and Comet Gain also lined-up to play as well as the aforementioned acts - all the details and tickets can be found here - the best possible start to your New Year for sure.

Joanna Gruesome - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / joannagruesome.bandcamp.com

I listened to Joanna Gruesome for the first time with some trepidation, I'm not sure if it was the use of the word gruesome bringing unpleasant memories or the similarities in name to Joanna Newsom (not that I hate her, opposite). Now that I've listened to them I've decided two things, firstly I quite like the name and secondly, that I needn't have worried because the Cardiff five piece have everything going for them, a delightful combination of sweet indie-pop and grungy garage rock which you can hear on their debut EP (available on a pay what you like basis on bandcamp now).

"Lemonade Grrl" is a nice introduction to the sound, all scuzzy and lo-fi, a thunderous intoxication combines fast and furious drumming, fuzzy jangling guitars, and gorgeous harmonised vocals, it's a blast of late 80's / early 90's noise pop that's undeniably fun and energetic.

The two closing tracks, "Yr Dick" and "Candy" are possibly my favourites, syrupy dual vocals contrast superbly with the crashing drums, as thick as tar baseline and loud, chugging guitars, part MBV, part LC!, part Beat Happening. All in all, it's an enticing debut from the band that certainly hint at great things ahead.

Listen:

Joanna Gruesome - Lemonade Grrl