Strange Pink crash the gates with ‘Pencil Chewer’, a debut that cannonballs into view. Drenched in wonky charm and powered by a jangly undercurrent, this track marks a confident first move from the East Yorkshire trio, blending melodic grit with flashes of theatrical menace. It’s the kind of song that knows exactly what it wants to be, and isn’t afraid to gnarl its teeth a little.
At first blush, ‘Pencil Chewer’ might feel like a carefree indie jam, but scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find something much darker humming in the foundation. The track draws twisted inspiration from Aaron the Moor of Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s villain among villains, channelling themes of cruelty, power-play, and delight in chaos. This tension between brightness and brutality is where Strange Pink really shines.
Sam Forrest leads the charge with a vocal delivery that flirts between resigned cool and barely-contained fury, a balance he’s long perfected in his post-Nine Black Alps career. The guitars shimmer with just enough haze to nod at the slacker heroes of the ’90s, while still keeping the edge alive. Bassist Eddie Alan Logie keeps the pulse steady and unfussy, giving the verses room to stretch and the chorus a solid landing pad, while drummer Dom Smith brings undeniable drive and heart, his rhythm work crisp and purposeful.
Recorded at York’s Young Thugs studio with Nick ‘The Muscle’ Russell at the controls, and mastered by the seasoned ears of Ed Woods, the production nails that fuzzy, immediate feel without falling into lo-fi murk. There’s a tactile presence to every element, like the band is right there in the room with you, sweating it out in real time.
Thematically, ‘Pencil Chewer’ taps into deeper currents of disillusionment and resistance without ever sounding heavy-handed. It’s smart rock music that knows how to have fun without dumbing things down.
For fans of Sonic Youth, Sebadoh, and Built to Spill, there’s a familiar kind of warmth here, but Strange Pink make it their own. Their blend of post-grunge fuzz, DIY ethics, and literary weirdness hits like a battered paperback in a mosh pit.
As the first glimpse of their upcoming ‘Out Of Focus’ EP, ‘Pencil Chewer’ suggests Strange Pink are building something exciting: thoughtful, accessible, and full of punch. Keep your eyes on them, this is a band with brains, guts, and a hell of a backbeat.
