Album Review: Yur Mum - "Tropical Fuzz"

 

Regulars on the London scuzz scene for a couple of years, the first thing that's probably apparent is that Yur Mum have arguably the worst band name since Does It Offend You, Yeah? But if you can get past that then there's plenty here to enjoy about their second full album.

The group take the old White Stripes guitar-and-drums-only format and drag it into almost Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs style heaviness territory with the fuzzed up riffs and pounding drums on opener Banana Republic setting the manifesto out in fine style followed by the swirling tribal rhythms of the title track.

There's a bit of a latent grunge influence hanging over this album as well - certainly Kiss And Tell has a definite hint of Mudhoney about it while the rumbling JJ Burnel style bass on Dig Deep and the grinding Sweatshop adds a scuzziness to the sound which suits it well. It's noticeable as well that the group take a bit more of a methodical approach to the songs on the second half of this album with the thudding heaviness of Black Rainbow and Crazy almost going into stoner rock territory (although you'd never confuse the angry raging vocals with that genre).

I was pleasantly surprised by this album - Yur Mum have taken a few well worn templates and blended them together to produce something that's not just different from the crowd but quite intoxicating as well. Like that band name or hate it, it's something we'd better get used to because on this evidence Yur Mum are a group who may well be on the cusp of something big here.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)