After several pioneering EPs, mixing spiritual jazz, Godspeedian post-rock and rap-rock (but verging on spoken word), Manchester’s Maruja (Harry Wilkinson (lead vocals, guitar), Joe Carroll (saxophone, vocals), Matt Buonaccorsi (bass) and Jacob Hayes (drums)). released their long awaited debut album, which offers a dose of ferocious agit-prop backed by sinister rhythms and mournful saxophone.
The band’s sound evokes the atmosphere of a riot. However, on this album, there is a clear strategic choice to make more of Wilkinson’s lyrics than previously. It is not clear to what extent the socio-political lyrics add rather than detract from the overall experience. As has often been the case across the history of rock music, the front man backs himself as not just a performer but also a politician and perhaps (gasp) even a poet. Hence we get sickeningly earnest refrains of “Its our differences that make us beautiful” and “maybe its the fear of not having love in their beds”. On the musical front, not much has changed from the EPs.
The band fares best when the singer is less verbose, like on the relentless fury of Bloodsport, Trenches and Break The Tension (moreorless a cut and paste of the band’s previous single ‘Thunder’), which shows how the spirit of the singer can act as a battering ram in a less verbose context that plays to the band’s strengths. The designated emotional peak is Saoirse, complete with quasi-reggae crooning from Wilkinson. Look Down Us, moreover, boasts the most powerful saxophone counterpoint and a multi-phased coda of bellowing string-synthesisers and saxophone riffs.
At least the band is attempting to commentate on something meaningful and relevant: the loss of connection in society and the perpetual social division. Though with their other hand, they are also contributing to that division on tracks that are clearly manichean in tone.
Label: Music For Nations
Released: September 12, 2025
Best Tracks: Look Down On Us
Losing My Edge Rating: 6/10