New Music Round-Up: Lambrini Girls, Franz Ferdinand, Brown Spirits

Punk! Prog! Heritage Rock! Twee concept albums about bugs!

2025 isn’t exactly in full swing yet, but there are at least tentative signs of life.

I’m not sure anyone asked for a new Franz Ferdinand album, but The Human Fear (Domino) is a thing and it’s probably worth 35 minutes of your time to hear the chorus of “Cats”. It’s unclear as to what Alex Kapranos was going for here, but my jaw certainly hit the floor with that last line:

“We love everyone
We love no one
Oh no but they'll never learn
They can try to put a lead on, try to put a lead on
But they'll never turn a cat into a dog”

There are jaunty little stabs at the band’s classic post-punk revival sound, but even these are more of a pedestrian shuffle than an exuberant rush. The harder Kapranos flails around trying to recapture the magic of old, the more desperate and sad The Human Fear sounds.

There are a couple of highlights, though. “Night or Day” and “Tell Me I Should Stay” find the band in a more relaxed form and will both reward repeat listens in a way that the album as a whole most certainly won’t.

Thank heavens for Lambrini Girls, then, whose fiery debut Who Let The Dogs Out (City Slang) — which has nothing to do with Baha Men, by the way — injects some energy into an otherwise listless week. The duo’s musical palette is limited, and Phoebe Lunny’s relentless nasal snarl starts to become a little grating after a while, but the provocative lyrics and frenetic guitars make for a fun listen. “No Homo” is a standout, partially due to the slower tempo, but also because the lyrical tone is a little more personal and reflective. In contrast, the rest of the record resembles a political manifesto, with Lunny desperate to offer her steadfastly progressive views on various hot topic issues. Tracks like “Big Dick Energy” have their place, of course, but their potency on record would be enhanced by a little more variety.

My favourite release of 2025 so far has to be the wonderful Brown Spirits album Cosmic Seeds (Soul Jazz). The Melbourne-based psychedelic rock trio’s freewheeling instrumental record is powered by motorik rhythms and gorgeously heavy guitars. There are elements of prog, a solid krautrock influence, and flashes of stoner rock, too. It’s sublime.

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QUICK TAKES:

CuVa Bimö - “CB Radio” (Self-released)

At its best, CB Radio reminded me of Viagra Boys, Dinosaur Jr. and Adorable. Sadly, it’s a little inconsistent. There’s maybe an EP worth of solid material here, but it's packed full of promise.

Gumshoes - “Bugs Forever” (Self-released)

If the Decemberists came from the Midlands and made a concept album about bugs, it would probably sound like Bugs Forever. This indie-pop album can be a little saccharine at times, but it’s got enough heart to win you over.

Ghoulies - “Shafted By The Algorithm” (Erste Theke Tonträger)

I mean who hasn’t been shafted by the algorithm? While this frenetic synth-driven punk record from Western Australia takes a while to acclimatise to, it’s definitely worth the effort.

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