Album of The Week: Knowing What You Know Now by Marmozets
West Yorkshire band Marmozets are back with a brand new album, four years after their 2014 debut The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets. After such a long break from the limelight due to frontwoman Becca Macintyre’s knee operation, the punk rock quintet doesn’t hold back on their second album Knowing What You Know Now.
From beginning to end, the album showcases the journey that the band members have been through in their absence. ‘Play’ kicks the album off with punchy vocals and gritty guitar riffs, singing about a confused and messy relationship. Moving on from the bleak tone, the more upbeat ‘Meant to Be’ shows a different take on relationships, saying “stand up get loose get over it”, accompanied by characteristic screams and a strong drum beat as the song ends. In a similarly triumphant fashion, ‘Like Battery’ claims “the kids on the street will run the country”, with a melody reminiscent of ‘Chelsea Dagger’ on the chorus, showcasing a more playful vocal side from Macintyre than we have seen previously.
Where this more playful side doesn’t quite translate is in the song ‘Insomnia’ where Becca adopts an eerie, child-like sound to her voice. Along with the vibrating guitar chords opening the song and appearing throughout, the repetition of “I feel better with you” only adds to the ominous atmosphere of the track. At the very least, this song demonstrates the assortment of experience and musical variety portrayed through each of the songs.
Indeed, we see another softer but still different side to the band on the album’s closing track ‘Run With The Rhythm’. The guitar crescendos subtly throughout the song, more characteristic of Wilder Mind era Mumford and Sons than the Marmozets we’ve come to know. With the happier tone of the song juxtaposing the bleaker beginning of the record, we can see that the band have taken a refreshing artistic leap forward, and it was well worth the wait.
Article: Mariella Bevan
URY Music Editor: Alex West
