Review of the Puck debut EP 'Hiraeth'
- Jonah Hoy
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
As Galway DIY psych punks Puck release their debut EP Hiraeth, Jonah Hoy reviews.
Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind - or quite possibly the ears. Puck, the Shakespeare-inspired Galway five-piece, have released their debut EP, Hiraeth.
While Puck's heavy distortion and distinct silences give the music a sense of fight or flight, there is a sweetness reflected in its brash and brutal mayhem
Puck's experimental musicianship blends hardcore punk, neo psychedelia and garage rock into a finished work that attacks you on all sides. Hiraeth feels like the climax to a movie where the hero is in a fight for his life and a race against time. Everything feels so rushed: not the musicianship but the vibe. It's as though everyone is running out of time and has to play right this second or else.
While Puck's heavy distortion and distinct silences give the music a sense of fight or flight, there is a sweetness reflected in its brash and brutal mayhem. Flowing in and out of sheer panic, there are lighter and cleaner melodies which are the spoonful of honey to the heat: a delightful contrast that evens all parts out, even though a taste may still make you sweat.
Their vocals are hollow and far away; this is where the rush is, haunting and anxiety-inducing. It feels weird and uncomfortable, like the singer planned it and wants you to feel that way, as if you're not getting away just yet. Be uncomfortable and sit with the reality of their social grievances in a banshee's wail.
For a project that is melodic and seamless, there is still something about it that makes for unease. Like a helping hand is placed on your shoulder, but that comfort is making it worse. You know it's scheming, yet it smiles at you and tells you everything is going to be fine.
Puck's sense of haste puts together a collection of grievances against the world and what's happening around us. The mix of anxiety-inducing sounds and ethereal melodies show how the world is outside. Right now, things seem bleak, and when there is a moment of airy, light-hearted easiness, somehow something new out of nowhere crashes and ruins it.
Social woes and heavy distortion go hand in hand with any punk outlet, and Puck are no different. Hiraeth's DIY approach is what makes it so honest and heartfelt, an ominous reflection of the world outside. The anxiety it creates reflects the things people are scared about; it speaks to a reality, even if in some of the songs you can't understand their lyrics. It reflects a panic, a feast or famine attitude, where there is no in between, only extremes of each.
Hiraeth is out now - make sure to check out the haunting and panic-driven DIY psych punk's newest entry into the void.
Standout track: Healthwhere?
Gas rating: 7/10
The vinyl album and CD are available to order here:
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