Spinning Coin’s political jangles make for a fine debut

Indeed, Katrina Mitchell of that band provides backing vocals on “Be Free” and Breakfast Muff’s Simone Wilson does the same for “Running with the Wolves”. Permo is also being released on The Pastels’ record label, Geographic, and was recorded by Orange Juice’s Edwyn Collins. It’s abundantly clear then that Spinning Coin is well rooted in and connected to the thriving Glaswegian music scene, both past and present.

The LP is fourteen songs long, but never feels laboured. This is probably because in true indie pop tradition, most of the songs are under three minutes. With their jangling, sometimes-spiky guitar sounds and indie pop hooks; they wouldn’t sound out of place on the iconic C86 mix tape.

Despite the often-lilting upbeat music, Permo is a political record too. Underneath the jangle pop guitars and beautiful harmonies lie lyrics about class war (“Money is a Drug”), resistance (“Powerful”) and poverty.

On “Money is a Drug” the lyrics, sung in harmony, emerge: “As many people that live in luxury/ There’s many more people that live in misery”. Like this one, many tracks criticise capitalism and money. You just need to look at the song titles, as well as “Money is a Drug”, there’s also “Money for Breakfast”.

There are some wistful and romantic moments too, on tracks such as opener “Raining on Hope Street” - a delightful slice of classic twee indie pop. This contrast between the political and the romantic, as well as that infectious jangling guitar, is what makes Permo such an engaging listen.