I’ve been vaguely aware of We Are the Physics for a few months now, but hadn’t bothered to actually seek out their music or learn anything about them. I probably dismissed them because the name was too close to We Are Scientists, and while I have no problem with WAS, I do have issues with second-rate bandwagon jumpers. It was probably hearing Smashmouth wannabes Dropnose that sealed that particular prejudice.
But when presented with the new single, I decide to at least give them a fair listen. The bassline is pretty groovy, and rides low against a reverby, trebly guitar line and solid disco-driven drumming. I’m expecting it to rapidly descend into average indie nothingess, but instead we get early Gang of Four sharing a studio with Forward Russia. I know the nod to Gang of Four has become tediously de rigueur in recent years, and a lot of the blame for that has to lie with fellow Glaswegians Franz Ferdinand. However, bands like Radio 4 (whom We Are the Physics have supported) and Wintermute serve to remind us that it’s not necessarily a bad template. And now We Are the Physics also demonstrate that the drawing of such influences can still be exciting.
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‘Bulimia Sisters’ is quirky, angular, urgent, fast-paced and an unexpected shock of adrenaline. Definitely binge rather than purge.
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