The talented Londoners deliver a strong debut album.
We have been looking forward to this one. Man/Woman/Chainsaw have made a string of fine releases since 2022 and have grown in stature and confidence every single year. The band formed at age 16 and are only just creeping into their twenties at this point. They put in a strong cameo at The Facebar last year, closing out live music at Are You Listening? Festival 2025. They are hard to pin down stylistically, whilst the mix of guitar, keyboard and violin is pretty much ever present, the way they are deployed varies considerably. The usage of the three distinctive vocalists offers a significant range as well.
The six-piece band worked with Seth Evans (Geordie Greep, Black Midi) and Margo Broom (Fat White Family, Big Joanie) to produce the album. “We were talking about having a whole record of bangers – having everything be really in your face like a Rage Against the Machine record. We soon realised we weren’t Rage Against the Machine and leant into the softer moments of the album which I think has really become a big part of our sound.” says drummer Lola Cherry. That softer side is indeed very present across the album, and the quality of which is something of a revelation here.
Opener ‘Only Girl’ is a swirling piece of baroque chamber-pop. There is an uplifting, joyous quality that sweeps you up on its way out of the gates. ‘Canyons’ is a totally different animal. Slower, thoughtful, right up until it springs into life following a short violin solo. The band create a rapid and fierce wall of emotionally intense sound when they want to. Just to keep you on your toes track three is ‘Goddamn, Lizard Man!’ where Billy Ward channels his inner Nick Cave. This is one of a number of tracks that focusses on a dangerous male. Man/Woman/Chainsaw are a thoughtful bunch and are quite happy to call out toxic behaviour.
It keeps switching up. ‘Lighter’ is a beautiful tale of love. ‘Nosedive’ feels more classically Man/Woman/Chainsaw. It swirls and builds until the three part harmonies are sounding better than a ‘Noah And The Whale’ track. In their finest moments Man/Woman/Chainsaw bypass the ears and speak straight to the soul. The range is quite extraordinary. We go from soul tinged ballads to post-punk rock outs to an almost Lily Allen tinged confessional with added violin in ‘Something Else To Give.’
There are some really fine bursts of guitar contained within here, but Clio Harwood’s violin really steals the show. It is such an integral part of the sound, you couldn’t imagine the tracks without it. This is a fine debut from a band that you suspect are going to be driving the sound of London for the next twenty years. As they continue to mature and grow, they will be a serious force to be reckoned with.
Essential Tracks: ‘Only Girl,’ ‘Canyons,’ ‘Goddamn, Lizard Man!’ ‘Lighter,’ ‘Nosedive,’ ‘Get Up and Dance,’ ‘The Thing’ and ‘Something Else To Give.’
UK tour:
September:
Sat 19 – Belfast, UK – Ulster Sports Club
Sun 20 – Dublin, IE – Whelan’s
Tue 22 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
Wed 23 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
Thu 24 – Newcastle, UK – The Grove
Fri 25 – Glasgow, UK – King Tut’s
Sat 26 – Sheffield, UK – Float Along Festival
Tue 29 – Guildford, UK – The Boileroom
Wed 30 – Brighton, UK – Concorde 2
October:
Thu 1 – Portsmouth, UK – The Wedgewood Rooms
Fri 2 – Bristol, UK – Thekla
Sat 3 – Cardiff, UK – The Globe
Mon 5 – Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
Tue 6 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
Wed 7 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom
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