Out on Warp Records 7th May 2021
Pre-order BRIGHT GREEN FIELD here:
Sitting down with my headphones at the ready to review the debut album from exciting new age punk band, Squid, I was looking forward to this one. I really liked their “Town Centre” EP released in 2019, so hoping to be impressed with this record entitled “Bright Green Field”.
But first off, who are Squid???
Squid are a guitar driven five-piece from Brighton currently based in London, they are Ollie Judge – lead vocals, drums, Louis Borlase guitar, bass, backing vocals. Arthur Leadbetter, keyboards, strings, percussion, Laurie Nankivel, bass, percussion and Anton Pearson, guitar, bass, backing vocals,
Squid released their debut EP Town Centre, in 2019 on Speedy Wunderground Records and have since released four singles on Warp Records.
And that brings us to right here, right now, and their debut long player “Bright Green Field”, produced by Dan Cary (Schagenheim by Black Midi and Dogrel by Fontaines) in his South London studio.
From start to finish “Bright Green Field” sits on a layer of funkiness and spikey indie guitars, firmly planting their feet in the path set out by such bands as Idles and Fontaines DC and reminiscent of Talking Heads and David Byrne. Taking in elements of Art Rock, Punk and a sonic-ness associated with bands such as Sonic Youth and The Pixies.
This record has allowed the band to really explore their own weirdness and embrace the experimental avant-gardeness that they touched upon in previous releases, all wrapped up in a brilliant depth of storytelling. Ollie Judge’s vocals rain down on you like a preacher shouting his sermon from the pulpit.
“Bright Green Field” is one helluva debut LP. Brash, bold, inventive, chaotic and calamitous and in parts totally unsettling. Ollie Judge’s narrative is hypnotizing and the rest of the band shine with confidence and talent.
Squid know who they are and take my word for it you will to… Very Soon.
8.5/10
REVIEW BY DESH KAPUR
BRIGHT GREEN FIELD track listing:
· Resolution Square
· G.S.K
· Narrator feat. Martha Skye Murphy
· Boy Racers
· Paddling
· Documentary Filmmaker
· 2010
· The Flyover
· Peel St
· Global Groove
· Pamphlets
SQUID have also announced an online performance as part of the official British Music Embassy SXSW Showcase airing on Friday 19 March. Further details here:
And will play the following dates in September and October:
SEPTEMBER 2021
Tue 07 BRIGHTON Concorde 2
Thu 09 BRISTOL Marble Factory
Fri 10 MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Thu 23 LONDON Printworks
Fri 24 BIRMINGHAM Crossing
Sat 25 NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Mon 27 NEWCASTLE NUSU
Tue 28 GLASGOW SWG3
Wed 29 BELFAST Empire
Thu 30 DUBLIN Button Factory
OCTOBER 2021
Sun 03 CARDIFF Tramshed
Mon 04 SOUTHAMPTON The 1865
Tue 05 EXETER Phoenix
FOLLOW SQUID
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
