TOTT #5: PINS

When it comes to the whole ‘women in rock’ debate (which shouldn’t even be an issue anymore, but sadly there’ll always be the meat-headed naysayers) I’m a firm believer that us lasses can do it just as well as the lads, if not better. You just need to glance into musical history to see this is true: Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, Kathleen Hanna, Kim Deal et al – all totally bad-ass with buckets of talent to match the attitude. In recent years we’ve had the likes of Vivian Girls, Warpaint and Dum Dum Girls showing the boys that girls in bands are way more than just a pretty face.

We first tipped Manchester’s PINS back in April when the all-girl four-piece had the bloggers rubbing their hands with glee. Sure they look achingly cool (think Warhol meets the 70s No Wave moment: smoky New York basements and smudged eyeliner), but they’re also one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the UK in 2012. Their debut track, ‘Eleventh Hour’ was very C86; a hypnotic blend of fuzzy shoegaze and jangly indie-pop with dreamy, far-away vocals (they even realeased it on cassette), though PINS tread a much darker path than a lot of the other C86 revivalists. There’s a sense of menace in the distorted vocals and a brooding, slightly claustrophobic atmosphere that Manchester bands seem to have a knack of perfecting.

Having recently penned a deal with Bella Union, PINS’ latest track, ‘Say To Me’ sees the band embracing their down-and-dirty side. A much more confident track than ‘Eleventh Hour’, ‘Say To Me’ builds on the sense of threat of ‘Eleventh Hour’ to become downright snarling. Stomping drums and grungy guitars are offset by background coos, creating a disorienting feeling. If this song were a statement, it would basically say ‘yeah, we’re totally hot and enticing, but we could also chew you up and spit you out.’ Take that boys.

First tipped by Shell Zenner

Words by Linsey Teggert

Originally posted by Generator on December 17th