Lovvers - OCD Go Go Go Girls

Now is the age of the North Americas. Now is the age of the No Age. Fuzzy distorted noise over barely distinguishable vocals are the plat du jour, every jour. Cheap imitation on our side of the pond, yet how many real sensations do we send across it? Yeah sure, we have a helluva scene going on, inspired clearly by the sounds of the States; but how often do we hear of a British band breaking cool over there?

The nomad Lovvers seem to be taking off pretty interestingly though. The exception to prove the rule? Who knows, but for now, they’re pretty cool. Having played a shit ton of shows over the past two years, both on the island and stateside, the foursome have racked up quite a roster of tour buddies. Their seemingly endless touring schedule has cemented them as a hardworking live band, adding to their rep of putting on a damn good show - worthy of complaints and violence. They’re go getters. OCD go getters? Well, they never keep still, that’s for sure.

‘OCD Go Go Go Girls’ is their debut, released on Wichita, home to the likes of Los Campesinos and The Bronx. Two bands you could try and throw into the mixing bucket in an attempt to describe the sound of Lovvers. But then it still wouldn’t be quite right. These guys are more traditional punk than the rest of these cats. Playing scratchy loud punk rock, almost silent vocals harmonise discreetly somewhere… Irritating vocals, it has to be said. While frontman Shaun Hencher can boast good looks and strong presence, his voice holds only bearable. Good thing it’s mostly drowned then, huh. This does not denote the fact that Lovvers have succeeded in making a triumph of a record, in their area of expertise. Short bursts of popped up punk make for a record clocking at just over the half hour mark. Catchy tracks are scattered all over it: ‘Human Hair’, while being the harshest song vocally, holds an urgency in rapidity. ‘AXTXTXIXTXUXDXE’ recalls the twangy sounds of their past tour mates, Black Lips, cranked up a little more and minus the melody.

Essentially, that’s what is to be stressed about this album: it is one that masters efficiency. Speedily knocking out tunes without so much as a second look at the recording. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Lovvers are taking it back to the old school, keeping it raw in favouring the live over the recorded. ‘OCD Go Go Go Girls’ is just that, a live album. And that’s the only way you’re ever gonna hear these guys.