Supermilk - ‘High Precision Ghosts’ review
Supermilk by Sonny Malhorta
This Friday, North London's indie-punk stalwarts Supermilk return with their highly anticipated new album, HIGH PRECISION GHOSTS, released via Specialist Subject Records. Marking their third studio LP and the first crafted as a full band, this album solidifies Supermilk's position in the UK's vibrant DIY music scene.
Across ten compelling tracks, HIGH PRECISION GHOSTS captures the band's distinctive fusion of 80s post-punk and 90/00s indie rock while delving into themes of toxic relationships that linger like spectres from the past. Amidst band leader Jake Popyura’s recent ALS diagnosis, the urgency and passion driving this project are palpable, making this release a poignant milestone in Supermilk's relentless creative journey.
HIGH PRECISION GHOSTS is a bold and assured body of work that hits you straight from the get-go with its near-perfect blend of XTC-style post-punk and The Futureheads' fast-paced indie rock. It’s the kind of infectious album that demands to be put on repeat, stocked full of tracks that could all easily be singles. Producer Rich Mandell has perfectly captured the band's live energy and sound, making you feel as though you're right there at a Supermilk show.
The album opens with an explosion of jangly yet gritty guitars and pounding drums, throwing us headfirst into the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it recent single, "Many Thanks." In under two minutes, the track manages to do a lot and serves as the perfect overture for the album as a whole, perfectly encapsulating the band's frantic pace. Lyrically, the track addresses frontperson Jake Popyura's sometimes unhealthy relationship with releasing music and the sense of alienation that arises when you see people rave over bands you believe to be objectively awful.
As Popyura mentioned in the album's prerelease material, HIGH PRECISION GHOSTS follows a loose theme revolving around the remnants of toxic relationships, both romantic and platonic, and how they linger like ghosts, returning to haunt you when you least expect them. One major exception to this is the album's lead single, "Sweat," a track our radio listeners should be well-acquainted with. With its DEVO-tinged melody, "Sweat" leaves interpretation wide open. It could be about having a manic episode and running from your past, the cost of living crisis, or waking up in the middle of the night, gripped by fears that leave you drenched in cold sweat. Or perhaps it's simply about getting lost in a sweaty mosh pit, letting everything go until sweat gets in your eyes. I’ll leave it up to you to decide what it's all about.
The next track, the XTC-meets-Hot Club de Paris ripper "Robot Talk," is less open to interpretation as it chronicles a desperate attempt to communicate with a partner who expresses themselves in a totally different way. For a Supermilk track, its 4-minute 15-second run time is practically epic, and one that will have you singing along with every word in no time.
My favourite track on the album has to be "Christine," complete with its post-grunge American indie-influenced guitar work. It is a banger that exemplifies everything Supermilk does so well while introducing a touch of the supernatural—something that is always close to my heart. The track's lyrics document a village's love/hate relationship with the local witch as they beg her to "help me."
If you want an example of Supermilk at their frantic best, look no further than the album's penultimate track, "Do Not Pass Go." During its just shy of 2-and-a-half minute run time, it perfectly captures the frenzy of a nervous breakdown following the end of a friendship. Its schizophrenic jostling between time signatures adds perfectly to the sense of frenzy. It is a track that echoes the grittier post-punk side of the mid-2000s UK indie renaissance.
Closing the album is "To Sink a Ship," a track that proudly wears its influence from Swindon's greatest band, XTC, on its sleeve. It is the perfect way to end the record, featuring spacious yet jangly and gritty guitars alongside Popyura’s mournful, melancholic vocals. As Popyura laments the remnants of toxic relationships returning to haunt him, the song encapsulates the album's overarching themes beautifully.
HIGH PRECISION GHOSTS is a testament to Supermilk's relentless creativity and evolution, capturing their distinctive fusion of 80s post-punk and 90/00s indie rock. The album's compelling tracks delve into themes of toxic relationships that linger and haunt like ghosts. Producer Rich Mandell has perfectly captured the band's live energy and sound, making each song feel immediate and vibrant. The record seamlessly blends jangly yet gritty guitars with Popyura’s melancholic vocals, creating a dynamic listening experience that is both cathartic and celebratory.
Given Popyura’s recent ALS diagnosis, it’s uncertain how much time we will have with Supermilk. However, with HIGH PRECISION GHOSTS, we have received the perfect Supermilk album. Here's hoping this isn’t the last chapter in their incredible journey.
HIGH PRECISION GHOSTS from Supermilk is out on 9 August via Specialist Subject Records and is available on all good streaming platforms. Catch Supermilk at a trio of dates in Brighton, Portsmouth, and London this September.
