Permanent (Joy) - 'EP1' EP Review

Tracklist:

Josephine
Aeroplane
Save My Life
I Wanna Go Home
Sometimes

Permanent (Joy) have risen from the ashes of Blondes, first starting to release music in September 2024 this is their first EP, which is out on the 7th of March on Coastal Sound Recordings. The band have been generating some noise as a result of opening for Franz Ferdinand and are about to open for both Inhaler and Blossoms. Not a bad way for a new band to start. To celebrate the new EP, the band are going to headline a show at Jacaranda in March, perform a showcase session for BBC Introducing Merseyside and also play Liverpool Sound City festival.

The EP consists of 5 named songs and one untitled, three of which have previously been released as singles, 'Josephine', 'Aeroplane' and 'I Wanna Go Home' which I previously reviewed for this site. I wonder if they are going to just name EP’s and albums in number order, I suppose it saves having to think of names!

I was a fan of Blondes and was sorry to hear that they were no more, but I think this new band are showing signs of being better, They still play Indie Rock, but this new incarnation is slightly darker, slightly moodier and yet at times feels a bit more playful. There is also a little bit of an eighties vibe to the whole thing as well but in a very good way.

Opening song 'Josephine' has a really good vibe to it, think the La’s meets Suede, but sung by Echo and the Bunnymen. There is lush orchestration and some lovely guitar work.

It’s then followed by 'Aeroplane', which feels like it could become a sing along favourite, like the rest of the EP the quality of the songwriting and the musicianship shines through. There isn’t a weak link here, this is a band already on top of their game.

'Save My Life' comes next and is the standout song on the EP for me, it’s got everything you can want in an indie rock track, a great sing along chorus, excellent guitar work and a driving rhythm section.

'I Wanna Go Home' is a brilliant song, certain to create outbreaks of dancing and bouncing around when it’s played live. It has a swagger to it, a wonderful rhythm and a very singable chorus, what more do you need?

'Sometimes' has a lovely bass line driving it, the drums then come in quickly followed by some jangly guitars, The lyrics then kick in and are totally unexpected, there is a sadness to this song that I just didn’t expect. How can a song sound so upbeat and so downbeat at the same time? It’s a clear sign of just how good this band could be.

The sixth track is currently untitled, is an unexpected change of pace, slower but with spoken lyrics which work very well. It reminds me of someone else, but I can’t think who. It does eventually morph into something else but that something else is just as good before morphing back again. It’s a sign that this band are going to experiment, show different sides and challenge themselves, I’m all for that!

All in all, this is an excellent EP. This is a band well worth keeping an eye out for, it feels like this is just the start of a soon to be very impressive career, I’m hoping to get to see them live as soon as possible as I think they are soon going to graduate to bigger and better things.