Grubs arrive with a debut of frantic charm

Though two thirds of this vibrant trio are in Joanna Gruesome, there’s enough present to make sure that it would be unfair to paint Grubs as a side project; as this album that Roxy Brennan, Owen Williams and Jake May have crafted is one that is rich with the distinct sounds of C60 indie, albeit ones that have been diced and then reconstructed with passion and sticking plasters to help keep it all together.

On the surface of songs such as opener "What Cost" may often be all sweetness and light but underneath these exciteable, fast-natured pop songs there’s a strong back bone. Songs such as "Garnish" have the same frantic nature that was often present in Bearsuit, who under their twee-ness also had a fierce nature and a penchant for distinct musical turns and shouty vocals, while "Gym Shame" where discordant and abrasive guitar lines collide head on with a driving rhythm sounds like a condensed version of Johnny Foreigner.

The production, kept deliberately under-polished to help ensure that the charm is not smoothed away, helps ensure that Grubs debut album is a fine collection of hurried pop songs that sometimes feel as if they are in a race to reach the finish line, but ultimately have enough charm and playfulness to make this a memorable introduction to their world.