ALBUM REVIEW: ĠENN – unum

Liminal Collective

Released: 06.10.23

Amid the slew of post-punk debutants penetrating our consciousness with each passing month, nobody could accuse Brighton-based ĠENN of failing to stand out. Indeed, the tension which fuels unum lies in their sense of otherness – namely the day-by-day challenge of assimilating within an adopted hometown.

Shunning taut genre tropes, the quartet instead seek equilibrium in individuality, embracing their Maltese roots (‘ġenn’ itself is Maltese for ‘frenzy’) and engaging with social issues such as the ongoing abortion ban blighting the nation. Showcasing rich dynamism and a bountiful jazz sensibility, unum leaves ample space for future exploration, yet when its melange of influences coalesce – as on the likes of Calypso and Wild West – it makes for an engrossing, eminently encouraging entrance.