Pleisured - I’m Not Pleisured EP Review
Pleisured burst onto the scene with a tight, chaotic, and irresistibly fun first EP.
In line with Big Richard Records’ keen eye for spotting and releasing local talent, London rockers Pleisured’s debut EP I’m Not Pleisured is a riot of a good time. Though deceptively simple, the band’s first effort is a healthy blend of volume, groove, and pace, even if not the most wholly original.
A tight four tracks, I’m Not Pleisured dips its toes into its noise punk inspirations, with opener ‘ROT’ hits you right from the start with juiced up guitars that crackle in your ear paired with a thumping bass drum kick that only adds a complimentary sonic propulsion. The drumming is tight, with a heavy use of dynamic hi-hats coloured with frenetic cymbals. As the track moves onwards, the guitars transition into a jagged guitar refrain that rips through the mix while the frontman yells “It’s all the same”. It’s component parts aren’t difficult to wrap your head around, but truly come together to make a track brimming with infectious energy and concentrated adrenaline.
With no time to breathe before ‘Wait Away’, Pleisured keep you rooted with the same jagged guitar riffs that beat you to submission. Here, the drumming is slightly groovier, while still heavy, reminiscent of the blend King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are so masterfully fluent in. The reverbed vocals resting on top of the chaos is only another marker of their similarity. ‘Beat Down Blues’ is similarly energetic, again demonstrating the merit of a band being tight playing simple riffs and rhythms without being messy. The guitars retain their vigor through distortion, with a welcome off-piste guitar line with a brighter tone that really lifts the track through until its close. Pleisured are well-drilled, well-rehearsed, and are undoubtedly a great live band, but three tracks in, the mixing can sometimes leave things sounding slightly muddy, with each component part difficult to parse apart. They excel at creating a sonic punch that can be all-consuming, yet with each instrument compressed together can leave it a little flat at times.
That in mind, closer ‘RIDE’ is by far the most interesting track, starting with an acoustic strum progression, joined then by hi-hats, a simple bassline and rhythm guitar, but descending into their psychedelic, noise punk sound. Perhaps just a psychological trick, but the track definitely benefits from showing us the building blocks, sounding more cohesive as a result. Each instrument here, from the feverish guitars to the syncopated snares in the chorus, sounds more dynamic, and importantly more breathing room to move.
I’m Not Pleisured is an efficient and powerful statement of arrival from the eponymous band. It’s tight, powerful, and raucous, showcasing the band’s instrumental abilities alongside their obvious charisma. Though it isn’t always completely new or fresh, and its quality suffers because of its mix at times, the band have without a doubt proven why they are ones to watch moving forwards, as well as why you should go see them live.