Luke Richards of freak folk punk outfit Zapoppin' has turned his solo project Ubiquitous Meh! into a proper band, albeit with social distancing keeping him separated from his collaborators Jodie Saunders and Michael Dugdale. The new EP Fecund With Lovec was inspired by the "hardcore super sevens" bu band like Minor Threat: two sides of vinyl with multiple short tracks. The dream became a reality when the boutique label Buried Treasure released as such - all copies were gone pretty damn fast, but it's still available in a bunch of other formats.
Infectious weirdness is still the main ingredient, with charming lo-fi keyboards, floating rhythms, and jerky jagged vocals. The trio has made a real connection, egging each other on with tidbits and fleeting ideas that can take over the whole song - until the next one comes along. The two-part closer Meh! Can Empower You - part 1 is country noir intro that ends with an intentional tape screw up- is a self-deprecating, tongue-in-cheek stab at their own music. Their decidedly irreverent mischievousness is contagious. Fecund With Love is a good-natured one-finger salute, a joyous declaration of independence.
Fecund With Love is a self-released album. Buy it (CD, cassette, name-your-price digital) from their website.
Tracks:- Got Nerves
- That's Needless
- Fecund With Love
- Unit 4
- Mindrockin'
- Meh! Can Empower You 1
- Meh! Can Empower You 2
HCTF review of SouthWay Gothic.
