Review: The Eurosuite ‘Totally Fine’
When someone wrongs me then everything associated with that individual is, by and large, bypassed due to accompanying negative feelings; hence The Eurosuite, a band I’d avoided due to such an individual I was once friendly with being a great fan. In fact, if it wasn’t for Human Worth, it’s doubtful I’d have reviewed this, the band’s latest, in the first place.
The Eurosuite, a London quartet featuring members of the bands USA Nails, Nitkowski and Screen Wives, are Daniel Holloway (vocals), Gareth Thomas (drums), Mike Keary (guitar) and Mike Neaves (synths). Totally Fine marks the band’s third full-length release and their second on Human Worth following 2020’s Hot Off Depress and 2023’s Sorry. According to the album’s promotional notes the tracks comprising Totally Fine embody a more minimalist approach compared to Sorry. As a newcomer to the band, I’ll take this at face value, and it’ll indeed prove intriguing to hear what it is I’ve been missing, sonically speaking, so far.
Twelve Diphthongs is an interesting number reminding one of the kind of electro-punk pioneered by San Franciscans The Screamers along with shots of bands such as Six Finger Satellite. In other words, it’s pretty darn weird yet strangely captivating, making for a solid start to the record. Antimatter is possessed with a pulsating, infectious yet nightmarish disco influenced sound, this is no shallow Studio 54 variety carefully crafted for rampant cocaine and booze consumption however, the music here is too disjointed for that to be a possibility and therefore all the better for it.
Crustacean Blue is a blast of aggressive post-punk like Devo but with a serious attitude problem and while The Eurosuite are obviously not a hardcore band, the track’s short running time (a mere fifty six seconds) and spirit seems to echo that genre to superb effect. As a fan of 80’s darkwave and new wave, Bellyache was always going to tick boxes so if the likes of Factrix and Nervous Gender carry as much appeal for you the listener as they do to me, then you’re going to truly fall for this track.
electro-punk, but also elements of krautrock and campy B52’s theatrics, making it a goofy yet entertaining…
Reflection Monster brings us back to the present day with a noise-rock orientated sound that makes The Jesus Lizard and their vocalist David Yow sound tame by comparison which takes some doing. Rumbling Bass, ominous vibes, howled vocals, the gang’s all here, reaping sonic havoc in a visceral and rewarding way.
My Trip Away With Friends is a remarkable piece with its spoken-sung vocals and chaotic musical backdrop that brings to mind Arab on Radar and Cassels while Bagman has some cool industrial touches not far removed from Killing Joke and Revolting Cocks as well as Science Man’s cover of Suburban Lawns Gossip from the New Wave Donut compilation (which I had the privilege of reviewing).
Earworm has a deliciously dark Hip-Hop vibe ala Dälek with some JK Flesh style techno peppered in along the way while the bizarrely titled Celeryman Memory sparse ambient quality and omnipresent creepiness drops the temperature a few degrees wherever it is you happen to be sat. Houseplants by contrast is imbued, not only with the band’s usual electro-punk, but also elements of krautrock and campy B52’s theatrics, making it a goofy yet entertaining way with which to conclude proceedings.
Despite my initial reticence with respect to covering Totally Fine, I’m glad I got over myself and pressed ahead and while I don’t necessarily see myself jamming the album on a regular basis, there was enough variety, experimentation and all-out fun to keep me invested.
Label: Human Worth
Band Links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Reza Mills