Moist Leg know the system, they usually understand it by coronary heart. Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chamber ship catchy, sardonic, irrepressibly tuneful indie songs that absorb influences from a bunch of various eras – from the Ronettes to the B-52s, Pavement to Franz Ferdinand, the Breeders to the Strokes – whereas making themselves comparatively at dwelling within the present wave of talky British “post-punk” bands. After which they put their very own spin on it, combining deadpan wit, flashes of vulnerability, and a contact of the surreal in a means that feels distinctly their very own. ‘Wet Leg’ has an infectious hook and shout-along refrain that’s designed to make you need to dance, however largely it makes me chuckle on the considered listening to 15 seconds of it in a telecommunications advert circa 2009 after which discovering it’s referred to as ‘Moist Dream’ and contains strains like, “What makes you suppose you’re adequate to consider me while you’re touching your self?” Moist Leg’s model of absurdist humour – proudly dumb, usually subtly intelligent, at all times unselfconscious – is a breath of contemporary air in a scene that’s infamous for taking itself too significantly, and the truth that it is available in a poppier package deal means it’ll piss loads of folks off.
Which it already has. Since rising final June with the viral hit ‘Chaise Longue’, Moist Leg have been met with rapturous reward and cynicism alike; regardless of having solely performed 4 reveals, they already had a take care of Domino Information, and every new single main as much as the discharge of their self-titled debut LP solely boosted their momentum. I don’t know if ‘Moist Dream’ has made it on any commercials, however Moist Leg did perform the song on live TV earlier this yr, and it wasn’t their first late-night appearance. Their fast rise to indie darling standing has been as unconventional as their music is irresistable, successful story that appeared doable 20 years in the past however is now normally an indicator of overblown hype. Try to drown out the noise, although, and it’s exhausting to disclaim what the report has to supply, even past the instant allure of the early singles. Take these into consideration, and the album as an entire nonetheless manages to dwell as much as the hype. The duo’s distinctive chemistry is throughout these twelve tracks, and their persona by no means feels manufactured or overly sanitized.
Moist Leg weren’t occupied with any of that after they had been making the report. They couldn’t have – it was performed earlier than the world had the prospect to listen to ‘Chaise Longue’ – and that’s most likely a part of why it really works. The quirky, casually playful power they’ve grow to be identified for by no means comes off as knowingly self-aware, which makes the sexual innuendos (“Would you want us to assign somebody to butter your muffin?”), biting remarks (“After I take into consideration what you’ve grow to be/ I really feel sorry on your mum”), and occasional clumsiness (“You’re so woke/ Weight loss program Coke”) land simply as effectively. Memorable one-liners apart, the album typically mirrors the thrill of hanging out with a pal and never figuring out if the subsequent factor you’ll hear might be some little bit of nonsense or an unintentional revelation. You’re complaining in regards to the chaos of being in your 20s – annoying exes, hating events, getting sucked into social media – the way it all makes you’re feeling alone although somebody’s proper there listening.
On ‘Ur Mum’, Teasdale lets out a protracted, cathartic scream, however the launch is sort of calculated – it’s not till ‘Too Late Now’ that issues out of the blue get actual, when indecision turns into so paralyzing that she finds herself declaring, “I’m unsure if it is a music/ I don’t even know what I’m saying.” Moist Leg have stated ‘Too Late Now’ is about “sleepwalking into maturity,” which can be literal, however have a look at it one other means and it’s sort of a becoming metaphor for the album’s lyrics – they’re probably not about navigating maturity, however the unusual conditions you get into when it simply form of occurs. It’s the best way the duo channel these emotional experiences that makes their music stand out. Their satirical lens is perhaps what catches your consideration, however Moist Leg showcases a extra dynamic strategy. It’s clear they need you to have enjoyable, however one thing retains standing in the best way: The mantra on ‘Angelica’ is “Good occasions, on a regular basis,” however the music itself, which builds to a loud, distorted climax, is all in regards to the alienation of making an attempt to stay to it.
Equally, ‘Being in Love’ and ‘Loving You’ make their titular topics sound like equally inconceivable duties. However the place the primary mixes frustration with driving guitars and a punchy hook, the latter is extra downbeat whereas seething with real anger, as does the stripped-back but unsparing ‘Piece of Shit’. Generally issues flip right into a ridiculous mess, and there’s no level dressing up the confusion: “All of it was enjoyable, now you’re swinging a gun ‘spherical your head,” Teasdale sings on ‘I Don’t Wanna Go Out’, earlier than quipping, “A minimum of we’re all going to die” – a fairly grim assertion from a band whose said aim is to have enjoyable. However in case you’re all in on the identical joke, sleepwalking by means of the identical bizarre nightmare, perhaps it kinda begins to make sense.
