Short, sweet, and smooth, the surf pop debut EP from Southampton based group Weekend Punks is caked in nostalgia and memory. It has that distorted, washed over sound quality that lends itself to become incredibly pleasant to put on during a summer afternoon. Written and recorded between Southampton and Reykjavik, the album’s surf pop vibe might seem opposed to its place of conception, but the feeling is as powerful as ever. Through powering guitar work, lo-fi drums, and soft but expressive vocals, the album harkens to places, moments, and experiences you may or may not have experienced.
From the opener, the theme setter to say, the Weekend Punks place spaces and memory front and centre of their song writing. Going through the record feels like reimagining your college days, thinking back to times spent with friends celebrating those moments of pure unabashed enjoyment without a worry in the world. I was immediately thrown back to moments spent with a few beers on highway, recalling the inane conversations and increasingly unbelievable stupidity we used to engage in on the daily. But that vibe is so joyful to me, replicating it when real life sets in becomes more anxiety inducing than pleasurable. The capacity of a short three track indie album to help me indulge in a childish sense of escapism is remarkable, and necessary.
Fuzzy guitar, plaintive but emotive lyricism, and an overall hazy arrangement makes this EP one that is nostalgic even if there’s no nostalgia to be had. Memories and experiences are what you want the most out of life, and sometimes music can give you that feeling even if it’s far gone in the back your mind. A wonderful escape.