Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam have been lurking in the underground of the UK’s DIY rock scene for a decade at this point, their self-titled debut releasing near as damn it ten years before their seventh full length Mortuary Pantomime. Over this time the Brummie six-piece’s sound has only become more unique, incorporating influences as varied as The Smiths, Weezer, Titus Andronicus and The Stooges, their weird-on-purpose college rock wavering between off-the-wall experimentation and catchy, sing-along hooks.
The album’s opener Apocalypse is a powerful statement of intent with threads that reverberate throughout Mortuary Pantomime. A lone, distorted guitar riff and crooning vocals from frontman Andy Bullock are quickly joined by disjoined rock chaos with disorientating, fuzz fuelled guitars, retro-inspired keys and multiple drummers creating an incredibly dense wall of sound. There’s a focused lawlessness to Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam’s sound, instruments fly in and out of rhythm and harmony with each other like they’re all playing on different planes of existence until the brilliant, climactic moments where they join in unison, new tempos, keys and time signatures make brief guest appearances as the band meander through charmingly odd tracks full of unique yet personal material.
Some of the most exciting moments are when the band emulate sounds that mainstream audiences may be familiar with but with their own unique twist. Tracks like Thieving and Zone are perfect examples of this, Thieving would sound like it could’ve come from any number of noughties landfill indie bands, with its singalong hooks and guitar line following the upbeat vocal melody, if it weren’t for the dissonant lead guitar and synth lines in the verses and wild changes in tempo, the track remains catchy and danceable but with a special seasoning. Zone on the other hand takes an all too familiar, late 90s/early 2000s rock formula used by bands like Foo Fighters or Weezer and supplements it with their wall of noise approach, layer upon layer of guitars, bass, synth and vocals are backed by thick, punchy drums to create an almost shoegazey feel.
Lead single E.S.P. is a chaotic earworm that takes pleasure in subverting expectations, jumping between catchy hooks and psychedelic noise. On E.S.P. Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam succeed in bringing together seemingly random, disorganised musical ideas into a cohesive and memorable single, swerving wildly between sing-along indie and confusing, riffy psych rock. Lyrically it recounts the universally relatable feeling of going through hard times but having to stay silent about them around friends. It’s a testament to their songwriting chops that they’re able to encapsulate a global experience like this through a track with so many complex moving pieces.
Mortuary Pantomime’s extravagant self-titled closer spends 6 minutes breaking down Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam’s wonky, college rock inspired sound. Straight out the gate this track reveals itself as the peak of the album’s crescendo with a huge sounding guitar riff, continuing to build layer upon layer of interwoven instruments into a grandiose and cathartic swirl of noise. Even though the track does eventually run out of steam the indulgent ending feels earned after a tight, restrained album. Clocking in at just under half an hour Mortuary Pantomime is an easily digestible and enjoyable album brimming with charm. The winking nods to familiar formulas serve as a relatable touchstone on which they build a uniquely weird and complex yet catchy and memorable collection of songs.