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REVIEW: Estrons – ‘You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough’ (Gofod)

8/10

In a sentence:

Ferocious and multi-faceted, Estrons long-awaited debut album ‘You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough’ fully delivers on the years of expectation.

Welsh self-described “heavy pop” trio Estrons have been making waves for the past three years at this point. But finally, their long-awaited debut album You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough has been released……and it’s a firecracker! Although Estrons’ music is laced with punk affectations, especially rebelliousness, frontwoman Tali Källström says it’s “lazy journalism” to call them just a punk band. Judging by the idiosyncratic nature of some of the tracks on this debut, she has a valid point.

To give a flavour of how chaotic Estrons can be, one only need look back at the weird incident where Källström had a breakdown onstage in Cardiff and decided to take her shoes off and throw them into the crowd. However, she did have five shots of tequila and had just gone through a break-up beforehand. She was consequently arrested that night and put in a police cell. Hence, the single ‘Drop’, landing at the end of the tracklisting, was conceived as a fiery response through the medium of coarse and aggressive guitar production that, like Estrons, is rough around the edges.

READ MORE: Blondie // ‘Parallel Lines’ at 40 years old

This quote from Källström sums up the band’s approach to writing music: “When my life’s going alright, the songs are rubbish!”. Sounds like Källström and her founding compatriot and guitarist Rhodri Daniel, have more than few stories and opinions to share on this album. The opening track ‘Lilac’, for example, came about when Källström once pulled over in her car to check up on a woman because she was very upset. She assumed that the guy a few feet behind was trying to take advantage of the woman. It turned out her father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and the guy happened to live on the same street. Källström seemingly kills two birds with one stone by discussing human empathy (“I saw you crying in the rising sun”) and her own judgement regarding the man based solely on his gender (“More he said / Won’t rest ‘til you’re in my bed”).

Källström presents an unapologetic, feminist milieu on ‘Make A Man’ and ‘Body’ where the former turns popular culture’s objectification of women on its head. The music video for this song features Källström stood in the middle of two men in lamp shades and multiple shots of muscular male bodies, portraying men as the objects of beauty. ‘Body’, beginning with an appetisingly grimy bassline, tackles body image itself with “It’s not a breakthrough / Whatever you do / Is overrated I’m not intimidated”.

There are also several unorthodox cuts on this album like the indie rock vibes radiating off ‘Strangers’ and ‘Killing Your Love’, where the latter is reminiscent of the Sonic Youth classic ‘Teen Age Riot’. The grunge-esque ‘Jade’ is hard-hitting throughout, particularly the crescendo build up before the outro guitar solo. You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough demonstrates that Estrons are way more than a punk band as Källström’s ideas coupled with her agitation, fury and volatility is simply breath-taking. (8/10) (Harry Beynon)

Listen to You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough by Estrons here via Spotify, and tell us what you think below!

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