EP REVIEW: Chaos – Loose Articles

Manchester-based punk outfit LOOSE ARTICLES have put out their second EP Chaos, a small tongue-in-cheek commentary on feminism, social issues, and a homage to beloved locations in West Yorkshire. The main thing with LOOSE ARTICLES is that you never quite know what you’re going to get but regardless of it will be three things: brilliant, cool, and fun.

The opening title track begins with a countdown where you wait eagerly before everyone then kicks in. It starts in a rather cool and collected style before the classic punk trope of angry, shouty vocals kick in, a style which is then matched in the chorus as all the instruments become equally loud and carefree. Then it switches back and the cycle starts all over again. It’s there to keep on your toes as you wait to see what happens next.

That’s a theme which continues throughout the EP; you can never relax, you want to sit up and listen in anticipation to hear what LOOSE ARTICLES will do on each song. Eggshells starts with a cool bass line and, in a nutshell, just remains cool to listen to. It’s a song that references to the phrase of “stepping on eggshells” to avoid a confrontation or expressing an opinion that will cause divide…but screw that! Dirty Dick’s Food And Ale Emporium has vocals that start out in a slam poetry style before returning to classic shouty vocals for the short but sweet chorus, again going back and forth between styles in a brilliant way. It’s a brilliant track for a homage to a beloved food/music venue.

Concluding track Kick Like A Girl is an obvious call-out to the sexism and frankly stupid double-standards when it comes to women’s football. A song that came out just in time as the Women’s Euros 2022 were happening where everyone was playing witness to some awful attitudes when it comes to the shocking idea that women can play football and can – gasps – go on to win a major championship, it makes for an angry yet classy callout. 

So, what do we have here? An EP that pays homage to West Yorkshire, more specially Bradford and Halifax, that are stereotypically more gritty areas not really talked about, but it’s still home to them. A call out of the sexism happening in everyday life, from music, to football, to just voicing an opinion. As well as this, each song has their own identity and brilliant style change, to make for what is quite frankly just a cool EP. 

Rating: 8/10

Chaos is out now via Alcopop! Records.

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