PUBLIC BODY DEBUT LP; BIG MESS, REVIEWED.

Seb Gilmore,Thom Mills , Tom Bacon, Silke Blansjaar, Luke Vosper Public Body, taken by Lily Clamp.

Big Mess’ takes a wry look at the sedentary, boring or frustrating aspects of modern life;Joylessly gorging on TV (‘Way, No Way’), procrastinating (‘Break From Life’), irresponsible spending (‘Age Of Junk’) and ‘saying the wrong thing’ (‘No Constraint’). This monotony gets a creative shake up in this LP, given an anthem bang by the distinctive Repetition and agitation that defines ‘Big Mess’

Break From Life, Public Body

Welcome to a world built from hypnotically repetitive bass-grooves, spidery guitar lines and violent synth stabs, driven by a propulsive drum beat that defies the utilitarian routine of modernity.

The normality of life can sometimes feel dehumanising, the whirring of your brain after a week in front of a blank screen pressing buttons in a sequence to get paid a set of numbers. The dreams you drank up have drained from you stolen by the laws of society, the need for compliance. It’s ironic then that the very creation of this LP challenges the monotony of this conformity.

Driven By Data official music video by Public Body

The spirit of this LP, is tongue in cheek, satirical and reflective, the muted grey of an office cubicle life dissolving around you as you plug yourself into this.Detailing their debut full-length, frontman Seb Gilmore explained: “This album is a ‘Big Mess’. It’s me laughing behind my own back at all my failures, shortcomings and the shame that comes along with it. I’m not going to get upset about all that kind of stuff – I don’t know how! What I do know, is how to make fun of something – and that something is me”.

Globular bass-lines, glassy percussion and powerful vocals this band are the impact, the riot that gives us a break from the brick walls we’ve built around our brains, challenging us to leave that glass, pocket sized instant escape device and be in the moment. Ferocious and fun this post punk 5 piece make light of lethargy, neuroticism and boredom with playfully acerbic anthems and raw, unconventional sounds.

Both chaotic yet cultivated Public Body is a colourful a an addible force for change, challenging the stereotype of a digital brain. Made up of Seb Gilmore (guitar, vocals), Thom Mills (drums), Tom Bacon (synths, backing vocals), Silke Blansjaar (bass), Luke Vosper (guitar, backing vocals)it’s no surprise this five piece has received accolades from Gigwise,  BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq and BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders,plus in July they’ll be on a nationwide tour across the UK.

Live Dates
13th July – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton
14th July – The George Tavern, London
15th July – Forum Basement, Tunbridge Wells
20th July – The Fly Tower, Sheffield
21st July – Crofters Rights, Bristol
22nd July – Big Hands, Manchester 

If you’re an agent of positive change or just like good music, check them out on their socials for more.

Ren makes music

And you just have to hear it

Ren

In the latest instalment of Ren’s musical museum he gives us what we want by taking us on a walking tour of the 90s.

Ren’s new track echoes the likes of Fatboy Slim’s weapon of choice, The beastie boys, and kriss kross. The iconic influence of these industry legends and the sprinting of references to populate provide a peaceful place for a listener to just bask in the songs lyricism and have a good time. There is that much to explore that current time fades away and you’re back to bomber jackets and slip dresses, sipping snapple with your Mp3 in.

The power, the party and the revolution hosted by the 90s finds a home again in this track which begins with a bombshell of a verse. The jazz elements compliment the groovy guitar riff that give this track Ren’s distinctive twang. Each verse so individual it defies all genres leaving only the simplest message to resonate with a listener that this song gives us what we want, and what we need, just a bloody good time.

What you want MV

Filmed in the hotspots of Brighton, the video also nods to the days of The Big Push(Ren’s former band) and busking which lead him to be signed by Sony records in 2010. The simplicity of a setting tied with the cinematic nature of Ren’s storytelling make for a frenetic atmosphere from a live crowd. The passion and charm and charisma of Ren adds an extra layer to the usually foreboding nature of his songs, especially when the vibrant streets were set as a backdrop to Ren’s earlier narrative; Jenny’s tale.

Jenny’s Tale.

Released in 2019 the track takes us to the dark streets of london where we observe an unfortunate meeting between two grotesque characters; Jenny and a thief who goes by the name Screech. Ren stumbles around a desolate brighton setting the grim scene with each strum of his guitar strings. An omniscient narrator, he sets the stage. The guitar picks up pace when the situation starts to escalate as Screech demands;

“Give me all your money bitch, give it to me
If you co-operate, then you’ll soon be free
I want your purse, your phone
Don’t fucking look at me
I mean it bitch, are you listening to me?”
Jenny freezes, statue like, a lady shaped stalactite
Fear like liquid nitrogen in the dark night
She tried to find strength to move
But stayed as still as a statue in high heeled shoes

The puncture these lyrics leave you with will ring round your head for a while. The weight of lyrical talent in this one verse sets the tone for the entirety of Ren’s track list. He is a trailblazer, shedding hope to those of us who may not be able to afford PR, or costly camera equipment or have the laptop for high tech editing software, he shows us that with passion, patience and perseverance we can produce a song that will reach 1 million views on youtube-which Jenny’s tale did.

The final instalment in this tale came earlier this year in the form of Violets tale. The track’s opening is unsettling, a Spanish infused guitar and interruptive snapping strings bring us to a scene where a woman is ‘fighting to stay alive’. Once again this haunting tale paint Ren as a one man musical.An additional punch in this track comes in the form of the video itself. We see Ren, not in his usual exuberant Brighton backdrop but in a sterile blue hospital gown, picking his guitar from his bed. Ren was diagnosed with lyme disease 2016, spending most of his time bed bound and isolated, his songs allowed him to walk the streets again, setting scenes and and chasing dreams despite being dropped by his record label. You can buy Violet’s tale here.

Ren remains triumphant producing bangers and stunning listeners time and time again with his wordplay and banter. He appeals to all with his transcendent ability to echo old-time quality classic with his own acuity.

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