LISTENING TO - Working Men's Club

Hailing from West Yorkshire this band is the conception of its lead vocalist and songwriter Sydney- Minsky-Sargent. One of those bands who came to wider attention during the pandemic. They've been through a few line up changes, and style shifts, since its founding. Each time abandoning, then further expanding, the number of band members. Currently it is a four piece. This is still young Syd's creation. Though there are rumours he might be a trifle exacting control freak. Who would have thunk it?

Their sound draws on a wide gamut of influences, a heftly wadge of post punk, with a mish mash of electro, acid house and techno stylings. Plus the monotone dreary drawl of vocal from Syd, cut straight from the veins of Ian Curtis, Jarvis Cocker or Mark E Smith. Throw in a discordent jangle or two borrowed from the second incarnation Caberet Voltaire, and you have quite a northern pedigree. And though far from your usual club fare, this is really danceable too.

Syd, lyrically, comes across as a bit of a laconic wit. Who would never break a smile on camera. Though he certainly has a vision for what he's doing, however miserables and bleak it is. The musical blend is both retro yet contemporary. They could unfairly be likened to New Order, but they were rarely this characterful, hard and physical. What is presented here on the track Valleys, is the misery of modern day teen life in a Pennine town.

'Trapped inside a town

Inside my mind

Stuck with no ideas

I'm running out of time

There's no quick escape

So many mistakes

I'll play the long game

Winter is a curse

And this valley is hearse

When will it take me to my grave?

Here we also have an honourable salute to the Bard of Salford, with one or two borrowed lines from JCC. And then follow that with the track Teeth, which is far more sharply cut, the beats hit Pennine granite. Its an uncompromising jagged edged boot stomp. Working Men's Club don't attempt to make this one remotely daytime radio friendly. 

Already two albums into their career, there seems still a lot of mileage and potential yet to evolve here. Just keep an eye out for them. They may quickly flip from indie outliers to mainstream players, or vanish into the mist of a Pennine moor.