Dublin four-piece at odds on looming debut Poor Advice.

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Ireland has always boasted an impressive catalogue of musical works. Battling between church and state for a country seeped in political warfare is, as many musicians come to find out, a fitting theme for such impactful songwriting.

For the newcomers from Dublin, Jack Leavey (vocals, guitar), Lughaidh Armstrong-Mayock (lead guitar), Ryan McClelland (drums) and Louis Christle (bass) are certainly no different. Finding themselves on the edge of reason, Poor Advice is a measured delight of restraint and release that bringing something rather lucrative to the politicised post-punk sounds of today.

A dissonant murmur echoes throughout the record, stirring from its slumber only when required. In a way, it mirrors a country swamped in grief and obedience. It’s emotionally heavy, impactful and truly devastating to a country’s history that is dark enough already. For most, this is tasteful songwriting. For those in Basht., however, its common practice.

Fused as a unit no more than a year ago, the songs you here on this debut record are all songs that have been written, dissected, oiled and refined all on the road. These are not songs that have been lived in for the better part of a year, these are songs captured in-between load ins, on the bus or mere minutes of free time – all while the band were cutting their teeth on the live circuit.

This is perhaps why there is such a stimulating nervousness to the record, it’s all energy and chemistry bottled up, from the beginning of their roots on that fateful Southampton night at Heartbreakers. “That gig we did in Southampton was a bigmoment,” says Jack. “In my head, I was like, this is the tightest we’ve ever been, the best we’veever played.” For Ryan, it felt like the right thing was happening at exactly the right time. “It’sbeen pretty much full steam ahead since then.” The kettle is still boiling.

The Ireland we are now living in is different to the Ireland that existed twenty years ago. For primary lyricist, Jack Leavey, it was all about capturing these gutsy snapshots of experiences borne from a country in a pressure cooker. Be it the Government, the Catholic church, Ireland’s drug and alcohol culture, the barracks of war or societal pressures to an individual, Basht. here are unreservedly alive.

Every mark is a clear focal point on a record that barely lets up for breath. Equally foreboding and introspective in length, it paints a country in pain. But while it’s an album of anguish, it’s not without its aspiration. Jack notes as, “to hear the music and understand themselves a little better, maybe. That’s a goodway of looking at it, I reckon. The songs might not change the world, but rather allow people to figure out things about themselves.”

A now-dominant affiliate to the world of post-punk, Basht. single themselves out as a strengthening act of genuine songwriting.

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Post-release of their debut, sees the band hit the road late October into November:

Oct 27 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK – LOW TICKETS
Oct 28 – Art School, Glasgow, UK – LOW TICKETS
Oct 29 – Gorilla, Manchester, UK – SOLD OUT
Oct 30 – KOKO, London, UK – LOW TICKETS
Nov 07 – Button Factory, Dublin, IE – LOW TICKETS