On Repeat: Lazy Revives Grunge Half A World Away With 'Double J'
Tristan Young @talltristan
You may not associate the UK with grunge rock- hyper politicized punk rock sure- but then you probably haven’t listened to ‘Double J’ by North London rock outfit Lazy Day. The crunchy and awkward chord progression mixed with flailing melodic structures gives off a late 90s west cost vibe. We really like it. Especially enamouring is front woman Tilly Scantlebury’s jagged and throaty vocals. Her fierce and robust voice sounds like a cross between Kate Bush and Jehnny Beth from fellow UK rock group Savages, just not as nihilistic. Her words spew in a defiant and twisted snarl, yet there is affection and contentment in her tenor. Rather than an anguished tirade, as her draining expressions may imply, ‘Double J’ actually seems to be a boyant ode to a supportive and ostensibly platonic friendship. You don’t get that very often these days. “You know where I’m at and I’m alright, when I’m feeling rough I just call you up and I’m alright”, she proudly boasts. Scantlebury’s thoughts centralize around the sincerity and awe she sees in her subject, “I think it’s amazing the strength that you give”. Music too often dwells on the hard earned and debilitating journey to relief and betterment. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how willingly someone will simply offer it to you. As the song concludes she calmly lingers on that last restorative phrase. Until then the guitars are an undisciplined, stomping parade of energy. The chords break out and roam free well enough, but you can sense hints of irresistible pop sensibilities as they storm their way up the rhythmic scales during the chorus. If anything, ‘Double J’ drains the melodramatic excess of 90s grunge and supplants “edgy” cynicism for a kind of earnestess that is much braver. We listened to ‘Double J’ on EP27 of Beats On Repeat and you should too. Find the track on Lazy Day’s recently released EP Letters or on our EP27 Apple Music playlist. Follow Beats On Repeat for more content from the show.