{"id":85962,"date":"2024-03-15T22:15:29","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T21:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=85962"},"modified":"2024-03-15T22:17:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T21:17:56","slug":"the-lovely-eggs-new-album-eggsistentialism-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2024\/03\/the-lovely-eggs-new-album-eggsistentialism-review\/","title":{"rendered":"CRACKING UP? The Lovely Eggs Release ‘Wilderness Years’ Album ‘Eggsistentialism’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Eggsistentialism cover art by illustrator Casey Raymond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Lovely Eggs<\/strong> – alias Holly Ross<\/strong> and David Blackwell<\/strong> – are back with Eggsistentialism <\/em><\/strong>the band’s first album in four years.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Produced once again by The Flaming Lips<\/strong>‘ studio wiz Dave Fridmann<\/strong>, it charts a difficult period for the couple as they battle to retain their fiercely independent work ethic.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Operating from Lancaster, the psych-punk duo famously insist on total autonomy, recording in their own studio, releasing music on their own label, booking their own gigs and even driving themselves to shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building a fan base through tireless gigging and skilful use of social media, they’ve recently added their own Lovely Eggs TV Show<\/a> <\/strong>on YouTube to their clutch (geddit) of offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But fighting the good fight can take its toll as Holly explains: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a \u2018wilderness years\u2019 album. We haven\u2019t released a new record since 2020 and in the meantime, we\u2019ve been here fighting shit and trying to defend a right to a lifestyle that we\u2019ve enjoyed here in this town for the last 30+ years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It\u2019s about believing in something and not letting go. But that unwillingness to give in ultimately takes its toll. It does start to destroy you and the album is kind of a documentation of that destruction and collapse as well as the strength we\u2019ve got to get through it all.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never one to duck big themes, Holly says the album is about “life and death”. <\/p>\n\n\n

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EGGSISTENTIAL ANGST: The Lovely Eggs’ David and Holly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about loss and strength. On this album you\u2019ll hear us at our lowest and most vulnnerable.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given that context you might expect Eggsistentialism<\/em> to be a bitter, depressing album, but while it’s certainly angry and aggressive in parts, it’s ultimately inspiring and even uplifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sense of pain and struggle is most evident in the thrashier more straight-up punk tracks like I Don’t Fucking Know What I’m Gonna Do<\/em><\/strong> and the defiant opener Death Grip Kids<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Shove your funding up your arse\/We don\u2019t want your money,”<\/em><\/strong> Holly sneers on Death Grip… <\/em>against a barrage of bludgeoning overdriven power chords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elsewhere the mood is more wistful, particularly on seven-minute magnum opus Nothing\/Everything<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A deceptively sweet, expansive production, it features sweeping vocals from Holly against a backdrop of throbbing electronic bleeps and blurts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So-called “proper jobs” and the daily grind gets taken to task on People TV<\/em><\/strong>, while I am Gaia<\/em><\/strong> seems to be about the epic struggle to get through the very worst life throws at you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you tell the crowd you\u2019re broken\/and they clap for more<\/em><\/strong>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memory Man<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em><\/strong>with its treated guitars, is one of the most interesting tracks musically, while Echo You <\/em><\/strong>– has shades of a Tangerine Dream<\/strong> electronic soundtrack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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