Muncie Girls Make A Statement With Debut LP
From Caplan To Belsize
Muncie Girls
Muncie Girls' debut release, 2012's 'Revolution Summer' EP, was a sharp jolt of infectious punk rock that dealt with the trials and tribulations of being in your early twenties in today's Britain. Since then, the Exeter three-piece have cemented their position as one of the best punk outfits in the country with a slew of releases and a relentless touring schedule. DIY to the core, Muncie Girls look set to continue their string of successes with the release of their debut album, 'From Caplan To Belsize'.
With the title being a reference to Sylvia Plath novel 'The Bell Jar', it's quickly apparent that this record is a slightly different animal than anything Muncie Girls have previously released.
Opener "Learn In School" presents a broader world-view than we've heard from them before, and bassist/vocalist Lande Hekt's lyrics continue in this vein throughout the album, dealing with politics, sexism and modern society as well as the personal issues hinted at by the record's title. This lyrical depth alone lifts 'From Caplan To Belsize' above previous releases – there's a sense here that Hekt is really looking to say something meaningful.
On paper, 'From Caplan To Belsize' is ten tracks of explosive power pop, but in practice it's so much more than that. The album is packed with the emotional swells and distinctive melodic quirks that Muncie Girls have spent years perfecting, with almost no wasted space.
The same can be said for the performances on the album; there are no overblown strings or indulgent piano passages, just the bare components of Muncie Girls – Lande Hekt's endearing vocals and driving bass, Luke Ellis' accomplished drumming and Dean McMullen's catchier-than-flu, no-frills guitar parts.
The whole album has a very organic, natural feel, partly due to the band's songwriting but largely attributable to Lewis Johns' brilliantly raw production. The record is tight and concise, exactly the way a punk rock album should be.
It's very, very hard to pick one track as the highlight of this album. Latest single "Respect" has a fair claim to it – it's full of hooks, with the kind of chorus you'll have knocking around your head for weeks, but the same can be said for a number of tracks on the record.
Elsewhere, "Gone With The Wind" bursts with a soaring guitar line, "Balloon" has a great riff with more than a tinge of 90s alt-rock about it, and "Gas Mark 4" is probably the best showcase for Hekt's vocals on the album. Some tracks are weaker than others – "Social Side" lacks the immediate punch of the other songs, and "I Don't Want To Talk About It" sounds a bit lost until the chorus kicks in.
Muncie Girls have been getting a lot of press in some big UK rock mags recently, and after hearing 'From Caplan To Belsize', it's completely deserved. For a debut to sound this accomplished is some achievement; some bands take three or four albums to do the same. 'From Caplan To Belsize' is a statement. Muncie Girls have truly arrived – and they aren't going anywhere any time soon.
9.5/10
