Album review: Lynks – ABOMINATION

Every song’s already been sung, right? That’s not true – in fact, on the debut album from Lynks, that idea’s getting smashed to pieces. Everything about them screams larger than life, from their huge collection of gimp masks to their quirky, experimental alt. pop sound, but what really makes their music shine is their thrillingly unique perspective on the world. They have the party spirit and sparkling wit of the friend who makes every night out memorable, but they’re also someone you’d want to put the world to rights with – as lively as they are, oftentimes they’ve got a point to make.

ABOMINATION is frequently a colourful, outlandish listen, bold in scope and teeming with ingenious lines – ‘Every day they ask me “Why’d you wear a mask, Lynks?” / Well if I didn’t every one of you would want to fuck me,’ they crow on the riotous LYNKS THINKS. Sonically, it’s as eccentric as you like, with NEW BOYFRIEND combining buzzing guitar with pots-and-pans percussion and TENNIS SONG contrasting the kitschy patter of a drum machine with the story of an unrequited crush on a straight tennis coach and an unreasonably catchy chorus.

The real strength of the album, however, is its capacity for nuance. There’s a streak of darkness cutting through some of these songs that make them even more multidimensional – USE IT OR LOSE IT’s hedonistic attitude to living while you’re young is complicated by the feeling that ‘my life ends the day I’m not invited to the orgy’, and I FEEL LIKE SHIT is a feisty kickback at the superficiality of self-care culture. Then there’s the deliciously funky title-track, and while Lynks hits back against religion’s institutional homophobia with buckets of sass (‘I put the ass in blasphemy, baby’) – their defiance melts to anger as they discuss queer people not being allowed to give blood - ‘Every time I see the British Heart Foundation / I’m reminded I’m an abomination’.

It’s an album that raises both laughs and fists, oozing with outrageous star quality, refreshing takes and clever ideas. Keep your eye out for the person in the gimp suits. You can’t miss them.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Peaches, CLT DRP, Bimini

ABOMINATION is released on April 12 via Heavenly

Read this: Lynks: “Being a queer person – being any person – is complicated. We have moments that are conflicting and challenging”