The Utrecht-based electro punk outfit known as We Love People In Bearsuits have clawed their way out of a decade-long hibernation, and I couldn’t be happier. Their latest track, Hässliche Jugend (which I believe translates as 'Ugly Youth'), is a gloriously unhinged slice of Neue Deutsche Welle rebellion - brutal, cheeky and defiantly weird. It blends punchy synths, hooky guitars, and absurdist German vocals with a carefree, trash-can attitude that’s hard to resist.
From the first confidently pounding electronic notes and obtuse oral side-step, I was hooked. The recording is nuts, raw and hard to ignore with big, bossy synths, robotic beats and distorted, oxygen-starved vocals. It’s great to hear a sense of humour in music again. At times it sounds like Gary Numan having a breakdown in a German gnome factory - and I mean that as a compliment. Admittedly, the track is slightly repetitive, however, it pulls in enough sonic textures and curveball elements to keep your ears engaged.
The cover art deserves a mention: it features a mildly saucy and worrying cut-up collage that feels like a ransom note from a dadaist with a kink, heavy on the symbolism. It’s unsettling, playful and perfectly suited to the band’s diverse aesthetic.
If you like your music noisy, your synths grizzly and your guitars furry, Hässliche Jugend could just be your kind of anthem.
Link: https://linktr.ee/wlpib