Gail - Sweet Nothings
Indie-pop powerhouse (and bass-playing bicon) Gail is a BBC 6 certified staple of the Norwich indie scene, so it’s no surprise that her debut EP, ‘Sweet Nothings’, has been so hotly anticipated; and, true to form, Gail does not disappoint. ‘Sweet Nothings’ weaves tales of love, loss and deep frustration into a perfect expression of feminine angst, fitting for the lifelong anti-romantic or recently lovelorn.
This EP marks a sharp divergence from the tentative softness of 2019’s ‘Minute Rainbows’ and indie-banger-in-the-making ‘Gold Beemer’. The first track, ‘Short Circuit’, welcomes us into a bass heavy world of hurt, frustration and painfully raw emotion. ‘Short Circuit’ thrums with anger, encapsulated in the chorus’s “and I hate you / and hate’s a strong word / and I mean it”. Oof. Gail’s biting wordplay and frank honesty come to the fore here; Her lyricism takes no prisoners, and is viscerally rooted in the reality of women’s romantic struggles.
‘Pylons’ continues this trend; it’s a dreamy, infatuated track, tinged with longing and laced with a twinkling electric guitar melody that seems to dance over her vocal stylings. This more mellow atmosphere could perfectly flow into track four, ‘Gaslight’, which lays down a similarly heady, summer laden bassline amidst lyrical declarations of independence. Instead, Gail jumps to the acoustic track ‘Birthday Wishes’, in an arguably missed opportunity to flip the switch on ‘Pylons’ ode to long distance love.
Despite this qualm, ‘Birthday Wishes’ is a stand-out favourite; effortless singable, this downtrodden acoustic ballad is an instant breakup anthem, and the cocktail cherry topping to a stellar debut EP.
8/10. We need more!
‘Sweet Nothings’ debuts on Friday 25th September 2020.
