Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
The slight edge of Punk, the feel of the low down but verging on the scale that will see them become talked of in living rooms up and down the country in highly anticipated terms. It is rare to be talking of something that holds such fascination that comes out of Madrid without thinking of one of the world’s most discussed football teams and yet as the Hinds’ new album sinks into the consciousness of the listener it is possible to hold the band up as a shining example of the new feeling of betrayal that the young across Europe are experiencing as they fight to be heard more so now than ever.
The cry of disaffected youth, the bitter recriminations felt and the emotions that boil over are something many have lived with but when the shout of Leave Me Alone is heard above the skies, when the anger of the times is enough to drive people into the arms of self expression, then it’s time to listen; arguably something as a society we don’t do enough of.
Ana Perrote, Carlotta Cosials, Ade Martin and Amber Grimbergen have tapped into the raw passion that comes with the territory and in many ways have infiltrated the same uniqueness once offered by the Punk ethic of Britain but with the delight of the continental approach firmly rooting them to the Rock elements rather than going down too far into a cul-de-sac realm of pure Punk. It is the sound of the raw that makes Leave Me Alone such a powerfully enticing album and it is the raw that brings out the best in each track.
Songs such as Fat Calmed Kiddos, Castigadas En El Granero, the unusually seductive I’ll Be Your Man and Bamboo all making good on the unspoken promise waiting valiantly in the wings, the silent but understood declaration that the explicitly announces the intentions of the four women, that they have a voice and that they are not afraid to use it, to utilise every sinew in the raw delivery if it makes people sit up and take notice and take notice you cannot fail to do.
Leave Me Alone, the cry of youth that strikes fear into the heart of anyone who has been there, an album of warmth, warning and pleasure, a great debut.
Ian D. Hall