The Breakdown
‘Bruxism’ (named after the medical term for teeth grinding) is the debut album from Adelaide band Street Legal, and it is a joyous blast of synth pop fun that blasts out with all of the noise and bluster of a shoulder-wielded beatbox threaded with a visceral message.
Singer Matt Heyward says:
Over the past few years, I realised I’d been grinding my teeth in my sleep – a side effect of anxiety and the stress of the world around us. That restless energy worked its way into these songs. ‘Bruxism’ explores the dangers of populism, the weight of anxiety, and the cycles we find ourselves stuck in, like a snake eating its own tail. But at its heart, it’s about finding connection and hope, even when times feel tough.
Opening track ‘Cardio’ is, as its name would suggest, a full-on blast of exuberant pop punk that is like a shot of electricity to the heart. There’s a fuzzy wall of sound and a cracking pace that canters along like an out of control freight train, with a rousing anthemic chorus. Exhilarating stuff.
‘No Gods! No Masters! No Doorlists! No Bouncers!’ rips through the speakers with a motorik blast and a throbbing synth thrum blast that eviscerates the soul – part Cabaret Voltaire, part New Order, part Dead or Alive with a dash of Hurts – stuffed full of attitude and adrenaline. Heywars says:
(it)…is a tongue-in-cheek look at the chaos of modern dating in the digital age – swiping, misreading signals, and falling in and out of love in a matter of seconds. The modern format/retro aesthetic of the music video perfectly complements the modern retro vibe of the song, as well as giving a nod to old Australian classic music videos including Hunter & Collectors and INXS.
‘The Comedian’ channels a little The The with its barely contained anger and message about the current horrendous climes, backed with a funky charged instrumentation with a touch of The Gang Of Four, early Human League or Heaven 17 and a heavy metal guitar solo. The lyrics reveal a wry sense of humour amongst the raw messages about economic inequality:
Paycheque to paycheque funk to funky
Tom from Commsec has become a junkie
The constant push and pull of market forces
Gentrified postcodes and quickie divorces
It’s boomers with one foot in the grave
It’s the mining magnate with the brain wave
It’s a buyers market if you forget to eat
Just 40 bucks a day until the end of the week
Final original track ‘Letters From The Occupation’ has shimmering aquatic guitars to the fore and a deadpan delivery that results in something new wavish and post punky. A remix of ‘No Gods! No Masters! No Doorlists! No Bouncers!’ ends the EP – a wispy house track version that wafts through the ether, spacey and spun out.
‘Bruxism’ is a spectacular debut – filled with passion and anger and yet delivered with a thumping danceable beat and roaring melodies – songs threaded with humour about the vicissitudes of life and ultimately emitting a ray of positivity.
‘Bruxism’ is out now and available to download and stream through the link above and here.
Street Legal will be touring nationally – tickets and details through the same link.
Street Legal are: Matthew Hayward, Libby Verrall, Max Tulysewski, Shara Klecka and Tasman Strachan
Feature Photograph: Jack Fenby
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