“Gender studies” Out on TULLE records 29/10/21
Released on the TULLE collective label feminist post punk activists M(h)aol, (pronounced “male”) burst out of Ireland riding a new wave of punk rocking sentiment with their super edgy debut EP “Gender studies”. Tackling a raft of urgent and thorny issues head on over six short tracks such as violence against women and toxic gender stereotyping the uncomfortable truths M(h)aol examine on “Gender studies” find extra traction, overlaid as they are onto an essentially stripped back, low-fi, demo-esque sound.
The deliberately minimalist production and composition on “Gender studies” sees effectively spoken word pieces built on a platform of simmering and broody de-tuned, fuzzed up dronescapes so much a feature of countless Shimmy Disc releases from the legendary 90’s art noise conglomerate that aficionados of such things will appreciate. What M(h)aol have found here is that an authentic DIY, semi-tonic dissonance and loose squat rocking sound is the gift that keeps giving if you can master it, which they have, and really it’s probably one of the only ways to soundtrack the difficult points M(h)aol make. I mean we are talking about ugly truths here.
I doubt that “Gender studies” is destined to propel M(h)aol onto a meteoric trajectory to fill stadia any time soon (and I suspect that such an ambition would be an anathema to M(h)aol in any case) but it’s superbly fractured and gain drenched production value and thematic integrity are undeniable which is why M(h)aol have rightfully gained the attention that they have
7/10
REVIEW BY VON GOLOKA
GENDER STUDIES TRACK LISTING
1/ Gender Studies
2/ Desperation
3/ Kinder Bueno
4/ Laundries
5/ No One Ever Talks To Us
6/ Oro Se Do Breatha
7/ Bhaile
FOLLOW M(h)AOL
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.
