Working Men’s Club frontman reveals his softer side on his folky solo debut, When we last heard from Manchester, UK’s Sydney Minsky Sargeant, he was leading clenched-jaw raver group Working Men’s Club. He still is, but he’s just released his first solo album, which showcases a gentler side. Not unlike the 2023 solo debut from Fontaines D.C.’s frontman Grian Chatten, “Lunga” reveals a folky, melodic streak you might not have expected.
“I’m trying to wear my heart on my sleeve a bit more; these songs come from a search for meaning and understanding,” he says. “I’m always trying to unpick myself and those around me, the ones I love and loved the most. There were thoughts and feelings that these songs helped me express, address, and make sense of.”
“Lunga” is the sound of a door opening onto a pasture, fog rolling over grass as the sun rises in the distance; it is the sound of renewal, and a sense of optimism. These are glistering melodic songs, an antidote to the chaos and abrasive atmosphere of touring, and a beautiful side-step from the music that Sydney Minsky Sargeant has been recording as Working Men’s Club for the past seven years. The 12 songs that mark “Lunga” were written over a period of years, beginning when Minsky Sargeant was a teenager growing up in Todmorden and following a chronology to the present day. It’s a deeply personal insight and “Lunga” feels like a haven, a world we can all step into.
Made with producer Alex Greaves (Mandy Indiana, bdrmm), “Lunga” is largely acoustic, but layers of sound design add atmosphere to standouts like “A Million Flowers” and “Hazel Eyes.” He does get a little rowdy, too, on the bluesy “Chicken Wire” and the harmony-laden “Summer Song.” I hope we get more Working Men’s Club records—but more like this, too.
released September 12th, 2025
The Fat Angel Sings 