Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s music pick is a visceral post-punk offering from one of the UK underground’s new standouts.
Genre: Post-Punk, Jazz-Rock
Label: Self-Released
Release Date: March 17, 2023
Vibe: 😳
Knocknarea is the debut EP from Manchester four-piece Maruja that, if all is right in the universe, should vault them to the top of the British underground’s heap. Already known for intense live shows that have caught the attention of NME, the BBC, and the Glastonbury star-making machine, this four-track collection captures the group’s post-rock and jazz-rock essence. Per their website, Maruja is “an evocative force that transports listeners to a world of diversity and gritty realism.” Think Mahavishnu Orchestra meets the likes of Talk Talk and King Crimson, where instrumental improvisation meets heavy, expansive rock cinematics. I’m keeping these descriptives broad on purpose, as part of the joy of experiencing this EP is going in knowing as little as possible. That way, the unexpected turns will hit you as hard as they did me.
What I will do is applaud the musicianship that’s on display from start to finish. When the band goes hard, led by the wild swirls of growling vocals and slicing guitar from Harry Wilkinson, it crackles with heat-seeking, rebellious energy, like a hungry jungle cat baring its teeth. As impressive as that is, the releases are arguably more impressive than the tension-filled build-ups. Matt Buonaccorsi and Jacob Hayes, on bass and drums, respectively, are excellent at providing an unrelenting backbone to each track and filling in the gaps left by Wilkinson and Joe Carroll’s alto saxophone, which cuts through the chaos with a generous helping of soulful respite. If nothing else, this release provides a glimpse into the potential future of the UK’s post-rock scene, one that hopefully bestows many more exhilarating listens that match this one.
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈