If you’re looking for something rough, rugged, fun, and fast, let me introduce you to Hot Face — the London psych-punk trio (James Bates, Sam Catchpole, George Cannell) that sound like a hodge-podge of Minor Threat, the Damned, Buzzcocks, and maybe a little bit of Richard Hell & the Voidoids. They’ve released a new single “Pink Liquor” and announced their debut album Automated Response, out January 23 via Speedy Wunderground.
Automated Response came to life at Abbey Road Studios. Incredibly, it was recorded live in one take with a live audience, with producer Dan Carey simultaneously manipulating the chaotic performance. The first preview of what sounds to be a killer session is the single “Pink Liquor,” which is garage-rock at its finest. It’s fuzzy. It’s gritty, but instantly catchy. It’s a bit absurd, but vulnerably raw. It captures addiction’s mad dash and relentless havoc.
Guitarist and vocalist James Bates commented on the track:
‘Pink Liquor’ is an explosive and raw anti-ode to chaotic hedonism and the madness that follows. A rapid-fire slice of garage-punk that wastes no time. Lyrically, ‘Pink Liquor’ is a dadaist-collection of vignettes that highlight the unhinged nature of addiction, its chaotic rush and ultimately, it’s consequences. The characters within the song are based upon people whose paths I’ve crossed along the way whose stories reflect those themes – Ugly Joe, for example, was a middle-aged alcoholic satirical cartoonist from the Czech Republic whom I befriended only to find 3 months later that they had died from an overdose. The track is neither a glorification nor a condemnation. It just is.
Listen below.
TRACKLIST:
01 “Defenstration”
02 “Sinnes”
03 “Liar”
04 “Bumble”
05 “Cruel Tutelage”
06 “Red Fuzz”
07 “Pink Liquor”
08 “Automated Response”
09 “Cavern Killer”
10 “I Love You”
Automated Response is out 1/23 via Speedy Wunderground. Pre-order here.
