‘Ready Steady Bang’ is the debut album that kicks off with singer and guitarist Angela Martin insisting ‘time and time again, you fail to see my point’. I’m instantly hooked. It’s not even 30 seconds into the entire album when there’s a shimmering synth hook thrown in by Grace Healey. I had to rewind to catch that again. Paula Snow’s bass comes in like something straight from a stomping 70s disco floor; a cut from Donna Summer or (more recently) Gossip. Kerrie Smith on drums is holding it down, keeping it solid then we hit not even a minute into the album and out comes this totally different, wild beat which she then steers effortlessly back into the verse, driving the song on. Like it was nothing.
Ok, so I wasn’t ready, despite the warning of the album title. And don’t worry; I’m not here to give a second by second account of each song, There’s so much packed into just under 30 minutes, it’s truly astounding. We have lurking, creepy psychedelic riffs mixed with spiky lyrics contemplating the birth of consumerism on ‘Shake and Bake’. ‘Sunday Monday’ sparkles and spins; showing off helter skelter riffs comparable to The Like. ‘Electric’ swaggers and saunters; if Elastica had thrown in some disco beats, this would have been the result. Oh, and did I mention that this gem is brought to us by Reckless Yes, who are continually knocking it out the park with every passing release.
This has been Hercury-nominee with the longest gestation period, an early incarnation of Bugeye having been active in the late 90s before the band reformed five years ago. Ten indie-disco-punk nuggets with a post-Britpop feel .
Blending cherry-liqueur lyrics, bubblegum-kneecap bass electrics, goth-heavy drum compactions & hi-rise guitar sculptures, maybe one day all music will sound this good. But for now Bugeye stand alone, Bugeye are a 4 piece band from Croydon. Flying the flag for women in music, they also run a gender balanced music festival called Cro Cro Land in South London. Not content with ‘only’ releasing their debut album, Bugeye also have a podcast ‘Rock, Pop, Rambles’ which sees (hears) them discuss various legends of rock and pop alongside sharing music from more newer, emerging bands.
It’s a powerful slice of disco-punk…’ – Louder ‘Each song just gets better and better’- John Kennedy – Radio X ‘With a sound that’s both retro and remarkably fresh, it’s easy to see why Bugeye have been making waves…’ – Gigslutz ‘dripping in attitude and obstinance, one for fans of the soulful fierceness of Gossip and the craft and meodies of Sleater-Kinney..’ – God is in the TV
Disco-punks Bugeye are teasing their indie debut album with the release of new single Don’t Stop, via independent label Reckless Yes originally released on 28th February 2020.
Re- released July 10th, 2020
The Fat Angel Sings 