EP: PINS - 'Bad Thing' - GigslutzGigslutz

PINS – the girls who brought you brilliant albums Wild Nights and Girls Like Us – have gifted us with their devious new EP Bad Thing; and the 5 track release proves the Manchester group are still brimming with infectious confidence, and more of their intoxicating, ominous post-punk sound.

The eponymously named opening track is gloriously moody and defiant, with it’s heavy bass and fuzzy keys. Faith’s smooth, measured vocals perfectly belie the menace in the line “you say I’m bad, like it’s a bad thing” and together, PINS make having “a taste for venom and expensive things” sound like the epitome of cool. Iggy Pop lends his iconic voice on second track ‘Aggrophobe’, and his spoken word swaggers confidently over the rolling bass and moody guitar. The song’s style is reminiscent of ‘Velvet Morning’, another spoken word track featured on PINS 2013 album, Girls Like Us. On ‘Aggrophobe’, Iggy’s voice is deep and edgy, and it stands out against the girls’ vocals on the repeated line “so many actions, so many voices”.

‘All Hail’ brings the tempo back up, and offers an opportunity to worship the dance floor with it’s shimmying guitar and catchy lyrics. Faith’s spot on when she sings “living is dangerous when you are a girl”, but PINS prove that being female is also exciting, ambitious and liberating too. If you need schooling in the art of being a “modern woman in the modern world” watch the video that accompanies the track so you can “learn by imitation”.

The eerie ‘In Nightmares’ follows, and laments the emptiness left after the departure of a lover. It’s sure to raise a goose bump or two as it fades out in to the closing track; a terrific cover of Joy Division’s ‘Dead Souls’ (Editor’s Note: my favourite JD track *squeals*). Musically, the group don’t deviate far from the original track; and it’s all the better for it. PINS treatment of the iconic song is as sharp and streamlined as their name, and it’s an impressive ending to this devious new EP.

Get Bad Thing spinning right now – and ‘All Hail’ PINS!