PERMANENT (JOY) RELEASE DEBUT EP ‘DESPAIR WILL MAKE ME A MODERN MAN’

EP REVIEW | ‘DESPAIR WILL MAKE ME A MODERN MAN’ – PERMANENT (JOY) By Keira Knox

Permanent (Joy) sprung from the ashes of the former Blondes, transforming their musical palette and establishing themselves as a fresh band. The band took advantage of the chance to refocus and created a new, unconstrained sound. Their tale is one of organic development rather than a dramatic reinvention, their debut EP ‘Despair Will Make Me A Modern Man’ is the result of this transformation.

Their musical style is as dynamic as their exploration, fusing experimental embellishments with that iconic indie rock sound. The EP’s release follows recent tour support dates with Inhaler and Blossoms; the band is now prepared to enthral a larger audience.

The first song on the EP, ‘Joesphine,’ set the new musical direction the band was going to follow. The song signifies Blondes’ departure and introduces a brand-new, energising vibe. ‘Aeroplane’ features slicing guitar chords and eerie lyrics, Permanent (Joy) is wild and unrestrained on this track. With its edgy theme and contagious quality, it’s the ideal method to reintroduce their sound to fans.

Talking about ‘Aeroplane’ to Northern Exposure last year, frontman Alex Davison stated: “With this song, we chose it because it’s almost like a second chapter in the same story, both in terms of the actual story of the song and also sonically, it’s quite similar. It’s all part of trying to establish who this band is. This felt like the best sort of next step to take. I think, it is a close favourite amongst us and our team, between ‘Josephine’ and ‘Aeroplane’. As soon as ‘Josephine’ went out, we were very much like, this is the next song. We’re trying to continue building the fan base and speaking to people who like the first track and see if people want to get invested in what we’re doing, basically.”

The track ‘I Wanna Go Home’ stands out. It delves into rock components and gives Permanent (Joy) a distinctive musical flush. The song is heavily produced and grabs your attention immediately. This EP has a lot of noteworthy moments. While many fans may still wish to hear the sounds of Blondes, Permanent (Joy) are a completely different band that have developed something remarkable out of less than ordinary conditions.

In May, Permanent (Joy) will play at Liverpool’s Sound City and a showcase session for BBC Introducing Merseyside. Additionally, the band will open for Alex Spencer during his homecoming performance at Manchester’s Gorilla in April.