Narc. Magazine Online
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Ben Lowes-Smith discovers a peerless record of meticulous melodic guitar and powerful vocals
Bella Union
Released: 13.02.26
Image by Josh Armstrong
congratulations have generated a reputation as being one of the country’s best live outfits; their energetic, chaotic music has won hearts and minds up and down the land.
The vibe and eclecticism of their live shows has translated to record beautifully. congratulations are a band with two components which make their sound dynamic; Leah Stanhope’s incredible vocal range and power, and Jamie Chellar’s meticulously melodic guitar playing. Join Hands takes us on a colourful journey through finely curated party rock: Fought 4 Love takes Devo’s thrillingly numbskull template and adds the histrionics of Annie Clark, City Boy is a CBBC version of Deerhoof (non-pejorative) having a party with Prince, while some of the deeper cuts tread harder, tougher territory – I Feel Severe reminds me of Cardiacs in parts.
It’s certainly a record that you can’t accuse of being short ideas and aesthetic; the tropes of late 90s R&B are applied gorgeously to Nevagonna and Bubbles. This is a quality album that at present makes congratulations feel peerless, they are a guitar band who have created an incredibly fun record bursting with imagination at a time and in a landscape that feels quite scarce. In tandem with their explosive live shows, this is one to be cherished.
