Bohica – “Keep Me Awake” Review
Posted: by Findlay
Reviews of 7” singles are never the most extravagant or in-depth things you’ll ever read but I reckon Bohica’s Keep Me Awake (produced by your man Bob Cooper) is worthy of any attention it gets.
The single came to me last Friday via a random link on Twitter.com, home of the precious #content, and I haven’t stopped listening to it since. Bohica, from Cheshire, England might be that dream-punk fix you’ve been looking for.
A-side “Keep Me Awake” kicks in instantly with rushed but considered dreamy punk chords swooning at an amazing speed over guitarist and vocalist Matthew’s voice. The pacing not letting up for the chorus, where vocals are doubled up for harmony, making it the ~extra~ touch catchy. The song is sub-2 minutes and manages to pack in more tasty melodies and even a neat little build up to its final chorus. My only real criticism being that the song has plenty of room to expand and be a shade longer. But that’s me being greedy.
B-side “Spun Out” is the real kicker though. A bit of a slower cut with clanging guitars and heavy mid-tempo drums on the verses, Matthew’s vocals here reminding me a tiny bit of Layne Staley which is fucking COOL. The chorus kicks in and, after the first time hearing it, you’re singing it. It’s beyond catchy and rad sounding. I can’t help comparing it to sounding like Title Fight’s latest LP Hyperview but the similarities are there. Though, this is what Hyperview should have sounded like. The clattering, the melody, the dreaminess, but no loss of that energy and heaviness you want.
Where the previous EP Wait Here had more of a grunge hint to it, the band’s new direction has ramped it up, mixing shoegaze and punk while retaining the identity of their previous sound. Its fucking killer and I hugely recommend you check it out.
9/10
The 7” can be bought from Get It Records for a paltry £3!
Bohica’s Bandcamp: https://bohica.bandcamp.com/album/keep-me-awake
