When “Every Bad” was released in spring 2020, the euphoria of the British hype organ “NME” (and ROLLING STONE) was justified. The album by the band from Brighton, which had already released quite a few things in DIY mode, is one of the most interesting things the island’s music scene has to offer at the moment. But it also washed the spinning punk pop of the quartet around singer and songwriter Dana Margolin into realms that people with indie rock socialization have to get used to.
Like apple pie and antidepressants
Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky turns the fear of facing a wider public into a creative maelstrom. Margolin’s statement that the songs should sound “stadium-epic like Coldplay” is, of course, coquetry. The result sounds more stadium-epic like Arcade Fire. Or stadium-epic like Bright Eyes if Conor Oberst ever got near a stadium. “Back To The Radio” soars into a disturbingly happy dirge.
In exuberant moments, Porridge Radio act like a self-help group of those at risk of suicide who shout out their frustration and then start a children’s song. They’re like apple pie and antidepressants: you never know exactly what you’re going to get and whether one will mix with the other. “Trying” and “Birthday Party” laugh at the disorientation in the ugly face, brace themselves with hymn-like harmonies and fairground organ against the free fall into paranoia.
The way Margolin turns even the darkest emotions into melodic songs is reminiscent of The Cure. “End Of Last Year” evokes the graceful inner conflict of Marianne Faithfull. In general, it’s the ballads that take your breath away, especially the dead sad “Flowers”. And yet there is not a note of self-pity on this record. Maybe because Porridge Radio, no matter what crisis they’re going through, never loses their joy in life.
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