Dealing With Damage are London Proto Next Wave exponents who comprise of Andy Myers (guitar and vocals), Owen Cox ( bass), Ed Wenn (vocals and guitar), Steve Cox (Keyboards), and James Sherry (drums).
The band members have served their time in various bands such as K-Line, Jerrybuilt, Done Lying Down, Sink, Bad Dress Sense, Chocolate, Down Love, The Scum Children, Fraff & The Honeysmugglers to name but a few. They released their debut album ‘Ask The Questions’ in 2020, follow up `Use The Daylight` in 2023 and release their latest opus `the London Particular` this month. The album is named after the original phrase used to describe what came to be known as ‘pea souper fogs’ as far back as 1820.
We are introduced to this latest release via `Deep States Of Relaxation` which is eighty seven seconds of what sounds like a skewed AI simulated human introduction to the band but isn`t, it`s just a brief slightly odd opening salvo. In regard to `The Inconvenience Of Democracy`, Ed Wenn says: “it was inspired in part by overheard conversations in my local greasy spoon coupled with my alarm at the recent swing towards populist politics and its tendency towards simplification of what are inherently complex issues” It’s a rhythmic slightly stop start offering and has that early Clash vibe. A restrained tirade against society`s injustices. Nick Drake gets namechecked which is always a good thing in my book. A gentle soul who is buried local to me in Tanworth in Arden and whose grave i`ve visited numerous times.
`Nickey Nickey` is a rolling pulsing post-punk offering which appears to be a tribute to Nickey Barclay a member of Fanny one of the primary all-female rock groups as it mentions some of her songs on route. The vocals are almost roared with some nice singalong bop bop bop bop harmonies midway with a restrained guitar solo, slapped bass, and keys towards the end. There`s a driving beat to `Wrong Sometimes` with lyrics that seem to say that shit happens!, whatever just shrug your shoulders and get on with it. A metaphor for dealing with life as you grow into yourself.
I have to say I loved `But Fear This Art` it`s off kilter, poetic and part spoken word quoting lines or sentences from William Blake`s` Jerusalem`, Virginia Woolf`s `Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid` and Ezra Pound`s ` In a Station of the Metro`. It also references The Slits `Cut` album cover as well. Ed Wenn`s ingenious use of all this with his own lines really resonated with me. A snippet from an Arundhati Roy speech on the US’ War on Terror, globalization, the misuses of nationalism, and the growing chasm between the rich and poor opens `Be Careful` . A fairly political submission which far from preaching, allows one to deliberate and ends with sentiment of hope for a better world. A wonderfully impassioned listen. There`s a kind of palate cleanser with `Hymn For A Burned Goddess` a James Bond themed orchestrated guitar instrumental with a spaghetti western vibe and Hari Krishna shades.
`Pre-Dawn Grey Sky Blues` describes the twilight period directly preceding sunrise, when the sky transitions from the darkness of night into a cool, greyish-blue, or muted, deep blue colour. It`s a heads down no nonsense boogie or belter in anticipation of an answer to an undisclosed question which must be crucial, kinda the calm before the storm.
`Hate Can Set You Free` is a one hundred second punk classic with lyrics that retain the sentiment of that heady time. The bass driven `Head Full of Feedback` takes a brief time out midway from its frizzy riffs and pounding drums. A contemplative musing on an adolescent hero who ultimately turned into a zero.
`Now I Know My DWDs` is thirty one seconds of not quite white noise but sonic static. There`s a soulful inner reflection with `Alienation` where the isolation and estrangement is almost tangible. A subtle echo on mental health struggles possibly.
`The Off Switch` usually parallels a metaphor for control, finality, cessation, and the ability to stop a process, emotion, or situation completely. But here it seems to conjure the opposite. A track that oozes organ hues, a mid-tempo old school rock out almost heading into prog rock territory. The two minute-ish long `Toolbox` begins with spoken word snippets before offering twenty seconds of hardcore then ending surreally. It lists the words that the author believes are at their core as a human being, good, bad and indifferent.
The album closes out with `One Bump At A Time` which opens with synth tones and is a reflective acoustic composition with shook tambourine. An outline for how to tackle life’s rich pageant, a methodical, step-by-step approach to achieving a goal, overcoming an obstacle, or just coping or moving through our existence on this planet.
`The London Particular` is a pretty overwhelming and absorbing listen. Ignoring it`s melodic and varied musical accompaniment, it is lyrically challenging in a positive, constructive, and thought provoking way. It needs a few listens for its, at times, abstract lyrics to gel or connect but I assure you they will. This is definitely an album to nourish not only your mind but your soul as well.
Rating 9/10
